Cork school appeals to keep in-school speech and language therapist in place for deaf pupils

St Columba's in Douglas has a facility for 34 deaf and hard-of-hearing pupils from all over Cork but a new Government scheme could see them miss class time to access certain facilities in their own communities

Taoiseach Micheál Martin with Triona Fitzgerald, principal, visiting St Columba's Girls National School with Facility for Deaf Children, Douglas, Cork, in December 2020. Picture: Jim Coughlan

The principal of a Cork school with 34 deaf pupils has called on Disabilities Minister Anne Rabbitte to ensure her students do not lose their in-school speech and language therapist.

The appeal follows assurances given last week by the minister about retention of on-site speech and language therapy at a Dublin school for the deaf.