The Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Ireland

National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS)

Psychological services should be provided through ISL.	Due to the current recruitment embargo, it will be necessary for NEPS to prioritise this service within existing staffing allocations.	4.2.9
ISL interpreters should be used by NEPS for translation purposes, where necessary.	This is currently being delivered within NEPS existing budgetary expenditure.
Special needs assistants
Where an SNA, with ISL expertise working with a Deaf and hard of hearing child, is made redundant due to the reduction in the level of SNA support required by a particular school, Deaf and hard of hearing children who require such support must continue to benefit from a similar level of expertise.	This should be achieved within existing costs.	4.2.10
Schools should ensure that SNAs working with Deaf and hard of hearing children are equipped with the skills necessary to support their particular needs.	No additional cost is envisaged as SNAs allocated to work with Deaf and hard of hearing children should have the requisite skills.