The CEO of a Catholic charity for deaf people has said it is “absolutely critical” the Irish Deaf Society (IDS) continues to advocate for and educate the deaf community.
This comes as the IDS announced they will have to close by next month if they don’t receive €300,000 in funding from the HSE.
The CEO of the Catholic Institute for Deaf People (CIDP) Keith Adams said that the IDS provides many services that inform and support his own charity. This includes providing training for some of CIDP’s staff, and that losing the IDS would have a “major impact” on their ability to deliver maximum use of Irish sign language with “appropriate understanding of deaf community needs”.
He said: “The loss of IDS would set the deaf community back significantly at a time when Irish sign language has achieved statutory recognition and the work of the IDS is much needed and valued by all who depend on its service.”