Chime has been shining a light on the lack of information on the educational outcomes of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) children in Ireland. Chime is concerned that D/HH children are not achieving educational outcomes in line with their potential. It is important to understand that deafness or hearing loss is not a barrier to learning.

The National Council for Special Education state that the objective should be that “Deaf and hard of hearing children graduate from school with levels of attainment that are on a par with their hearing peers of similar ability.” However, no data is published to determine if this objective is being achieved. In the UK where this data is published, in general D/HH students are roughly one grade per subject behind their hearing peers.

In November 2022 Chime met with the Minister of State for Special Education, Josepha Madigan T.D., and urged her to begin publication of educational outcomes for D/HH children. In July 2023 we presented on this and other issues to the Oireachtas Committee on Education. In January 2024, in response to a Parliamentary Question, Minister Madigan stated that her “department has requested the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to include in their 2024 research programme an examination of educational outcomes…and to provide same to the department when completed in the coming year.”

Chime will be continuing our campaign for the publication of data on outcomes for D/HH students and we will be seeking updates on this from the Department of Education and the NCSE throughout 2024.