Vol. 516 No. 2
141 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education and Science the categories recognised by his Department to meet the requirements of special needs pupils; if he has satisfied himself that his Department is meeting all the needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7302/00]
The Special Education Review Committee, which reported in 1993 identified 12 categories of intellectual or physical disability in respect of which distinct models of educational response were required. The committee also made specific recommendations regarding the nature of the required response in each case. While the Special Education Review Committee did not identify children with autism as requiring a distinct model of educational response, the need for such a response has since been formally recognised by my Department.
In the case of each of the identified categories, the response provided my Department is in line with that recommended by the Special Education Review Committee. Details of the individual special needs categories involved; the range of support services available in respect of each category; and the procedure to be followed by schools in seeking access to such services, were contained in circulars issued to schools by my Department in 1999. I am arranging to forward copies of the circulars in question to the Deputy.
