asked the Minister for Health if he will state (a) the number of mentally defective children of each sex between the ages of five and 16 years in the country, and (b) the number of each sex who are receiving institutional or specialised education and training.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mentally Defective Children.
As I indicated in a previous reply to a question on thia subject, no precise figures of the number of mentally defective children are available.
As regards the second part of the question, there were on the 31st December last 620 male and 540 female mentally defective children, under 19 years of age, in special institutions approved by me under the Health Act, 1953. Separate figures covering the age group five-16 years are not available. I should like to explain in this connection that a very large proportion of mentally defective children do not require institutional care.
asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to introduce proposals for legislation to provide for the specialised education and training of mentally defective children.
A decision has been taken in principle to introduce legislation to deal with the care, training and supervision of mentally defective persons (including children) and such legislation is at present in course of preparation in my Department. As the matter is one of considerable complexity both in its legal and administrative aspects, I am at present unable to indicate, even provisionally, when it will be possible to introduce the legislation.