Pat Rabbitte
Question:63 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the additional supports available to schools which have children with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11820/00]
Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.
Children with special needs can be catered for in special schools, in special classes attached to ordinary schools or in mainstream classes on an integrated basis where special support services can be provided. The choice of placement is normally based on the severity of the special need.
All special schools and special classes enjoy reduced pupil teacher ratios. The ratios in question range from 11:1 down to 6:1 depending on the particular disability involved. Children attending special schools and special classes also attract special increased rates of capitation funding and special funding is also made available for materials and equipment.
Children with special needs who are attending ordinary classes on a fully integrated basis may require special teaching or child care support. Arising from a Government decision of October 1998, all children with special needs within the primary system now have an automatic entitlement to the support services they require to enable them to benefit fully from the education system. The service in question may take the form of resource teacher support or child care support, or both, depending on the particular needs involved. Already, as a result of this development, my Department has allocated more than 300 additional resource teachers and more than 700 child care assistants to cater for children with special needs within the primary system. My Department is continuing to extend these services in response to assessed needs.
Also, in September 1999 the remedial teacher service was extended to every first and second level school in the country with a pupil teacher ratio of 10:1 or more. Schools with lower ratios have also been advised that they may apply to my Department for a remedial service where they can demonstrate a need for such a service.
As Minister for Education and Science it is my intention to continue to build on the above developments and to ensure that all schools catering for children with special needs are given the support they require to carry out this very important role.
Ivor Callely
Question:64 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education and Science if there is a waiting list for enrolment of pupils in special schools who are attending primary school with special need supports but have been recommended for enrolment in special school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11721/00]
My Department does not have details of the number of children with special needs attending ordinary primary schools with special supports and awaiting placement in special schools.
Applications for enrolment in special schools are a matter for the individual boards of management of those schools. A significant number of special schools have established an admissions committee whose role it is to determine whether children recommended for placement in the school would be suitably placed there. Decisions in such cases would have particular regard to the professionally assessed needs of the child. Some such schools also maintain a waiting list where a place is not immediately available.
My Department makes every effort to ensure that all special needs children receive the support they require, whether in integrated settings or in special dedicated facilities.