CDS Funding Under Threat - ACT NOW!!!

I will add an ISL translation of this information soon.

Forwarding this email from Lorraine Leeson, Director of the Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College Dublin:

In August 2008, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) announced that they would end core funding to all higher educational bodies and establish instead, a Strategic Innovative Vulnerable Subjects (SIVS) fund. The Centre for Deaf Studies (CDS) completed an application for funding in September, but as yet have had no response from the HEA. Effectively, our ring fenced core funding ended at the end of the College's financial year (30 August) and we currently have money to keep us going until December 2008.

The bottom line is that we need to ensure that the HEA realises just what depends on continued core funding:

(1) We have just received verbal notification that we have been successful in securing a tender to run a postgraduate programme in ISL. Without core funding, will not be able to prepare for or implement this.

(2) SIF II (Strategic Innovation Funding, Cycle II)- these funds are currently frozen - but when re-activated, money coming in through SIF is matched against CDS core funds. Any reduction in core funding will mean a reduction in SIF funds. This will limit severely our plan to roll out a 4 year blended learning degree in partnership with the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown, NUI Cork, the Tipperary Institute and the Limerick Institute of Technology.

(3) SIGNALL Project- we are half way through this EU funded project and core staff are working on this project. A reduction in funding will impact on our ability to pay occasional lecturers, meaning core staff will be called on to cover teaching normally covered by part-time and occasional lecturers, with the result that they will a not be able to contribute to these EU projects as we have been contracted to do due to time constraints.

(4) D-Signs - this EU project which is just about to start will be affected in the same way as the SIGNALL project.

Beyond CDS, the implications are significant - the most striking being that without ongoing funding, the training of ISL/English interpreters will cease, having a devastating impact on the Deaf community for many years.

I have attached a leaflet that briefly summarises the key issues. We really need your assistance on this issue in terms of bringing the issue to the attention of the HEA via our political representatives and via the main stakeholders who will be affected by any reduction in CDS activities. I am more than happy to talk through the key issues further with you.

I am contactable at 087 66 700 28.

Sincerely,


Dr. Lorraine Leeson Director Centre for Deaf Studies School of Linguistic, Speech & Communication Sciences (CLSCS) Trinity College Dublin 40 Lower Drumcondra Road Drumcondra Dublin 9 Ireland Tel: +353 (0) 1 830 11 66