Irish Sign Language

Thursday, 21 May 2026

Questions (248)

Albert Dolan

Question:

248. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of Irish Sign Language specialist classroom support (ISL-SCS) posts that have been, sanctioned, advertised, filled, and remain vacant since the publication of Circular 0072/2025, Enhancement to Irish Sign Language (ISL) Scheme Provision, on 18 November 2025; the number of applications received and approved by the NCSE for ISL-SCS support for pupils attending specialist deaf and hard of hearing units within mainstream primary schools, including in the case of a child in a school (details supplied); the current status of the NCSE recruitment process, including confirmation that interviews are underway; the expected date by which posts will be filled; the steps being taken by her Department and the NCSE to ensure that children in junior and senior infants who require ISL as a primary or essential communication support are not left without appropriate access to the curriculum during key early years of language acquisition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38469/26]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth

My department provides a range of supports for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, within mainstream classes, 25 special classes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and through the two dedicated schools for Deaf children; one in Dublin and one in Limerick.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) also currently employs 34 FTE Visiting Teachers (VT) who support children and young people who are deaf or hard of hearing. VTs are qualified teachers with particular skills and knowledge of the development and education of children with varying degrees of hearing loss. They offer longitudinal support to students, their families and schools from the time of initial referral through to the end of the post-primary education. Following the introduction of the new-born screening programme, visiting teachers also provide valuable early intervention support in the home to babies and their families.

There is an existing provision in place, which provides a dedicated SNA with ISL competency to support students in mainstream settings access to the curriculum and engage in school activities. To support children where ISL is their primary language, the Department sanctions an additional SNA (above their existing allocation), where a school is required to employ an individual with ISL proficiency to support the child to access the curriculum and support them in accessing the wider in school community.

The Department introduced two new roles in deaf education in 2022 – the ISL Special Classroom Support (ISL- SCS) and the ISL Adviser. The ISL-SCS works in a mainstream classroom and interprets for a child whose primary language is ISL. Over time, the ISL-SCS post is intended to replace the SNA with ISL competency role. ISL Advisers work in the NCSE and are tasked with providing training and upskilling in schools that have ISL users enrolled.

The application and recruitment process for the SCS posts is a matter for the NCSE and I have asked the NCSE to respond to you directly.