Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 26 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 6

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Joan Burton

Ceist:

174 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will make a statement in respect of the provision of services for 31 severely disabled persons currently receiving day services at the DEC, St. Vincent's, Navan Road, Dublin 7; and if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties posed for the children and their parents by the proposal to transfer day care services from the Department of Health and Children to his Department, thus resulting in a reduction of the nursing services essential to the care and wellbeing of these children; and the discussions which have taken place between the two Departments on the issue. [14927/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

There are no proposals for the transfer of responsibility for care and education of children and young people with severe to profound intellectual disability from the Department of Health and Children to the Department of Education and Science. My Department and the Department of Health and Children have dual responsibility for the provision of education and care needs for pupils with severe-profound general learning disability.

Because of the limitations of the existing accommodation in the Developmental Education Centre in St. Vincent's Special School, Navan Road, my Department is funding the provision of an extension to the school building. While the children in question will move from the existing Developmental Education Centre, my Department understands from the authorities in the Daughters of Charity Services, that all necessary medical, nursing, multi-disciplinary and family support services currently provided by the Daughters of Charity Services, will continue to be provided in the new setting. Accordingly, no formal discussions have taken place between my Department and the Department of Health and Children in this regard.