A HIGH Court action brought on behalf of a deaf brother and sister aimed at securing adequate tuition through Irish sign language (ISL) has been settled.
Proceedings against the Minister for Education, the State and the Attorney General were aimed at securing a court order directing that the children - a boy aged 14 and an eight-year-old girl - be provided with adequate education, therapies and support services, in accordance with their constitutional rights.
The family sought to increase the number of ISL tuition hours provided for the children from two to seven-and-a-half hours weekly. It was claimed this was necessary as the children required appropriate bilingual education in line with best international practice.
The case was due to open yesterday. However, Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill was told it had been settled and, after hearing details, the judge said he had no hesitation in approving the settlement. Tony O'Connor SC, with John Hanlon BL, for the children, said the family was happy with the settlement.
Mr O'Connor said the terms of settlement provided that the Minister now recognises ISL as a language in the education of the two children. The Minister has also agreed to support the continuing professional development of teachers at the children's schools in relation to ISL.
The Minister is also to encourage the children's schools to implement individual education plans within three months in order to address the children's needs.
The Minister also agreed to pay the applicants' costs.
In the case of the boy, the Minister further agreed to support his application to the HSE for counselling in regard to his social and personal adjustment.
The children's mother said she had sought an increase in ISL tuition hours due to her concern that their lack of access to ISL was affecting their educational development.
She claimed requests for increases in tuition were not responded to and that the children's education was affected due to their teachers not being adequately trained.