asked the Minister for Education if he will state (a) the total number of children accommodated in the 25 special schools for mentally and/or physically handicapped children, (b) the total estimated number of children in these groups, (c) when it is estimated that they will all be provided with the necessary educational facilities, and (d) the number of schools for mentally and for physically disabled children to which entrance is available free of any direct charge to parents.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Education of Handicapped Children.
(a) The total number of educable children for whom educational facilities have been provided in the 25 schools referred to in the Deputy's question is 1,937. Twenty-three of these schools have been established in residential institutions for the care and maintenance of handicapped children; (b) statistics are not available as to the number of educable children in the physically or mentally handicapped groups in the country, apart from the children in the schools referred to above; (c) as may be seen from my reply to (b), I am not in a position to state how many further centres may be required. I am prepared to recognise national schools in centres, residential or otherwise, on receipt of applications from responsible bodies and to provide grants towards the cost of providing school accommodation in such centres; (d) education in the special schools for handicapped children, in accordance with the general regulations for national schools, is free. I have no information as to any direct charges that may be made to the parents in respect of the maintenance or medication of such children in the institutions or centres concerned.
I understood the Minister to say that he does not know the number, or cannot give the estimated number of children in those categories. Does he propose to take any steps to find out what that number is? If he does not, how is he going to deal with this problem?
The interim report of the National Organisation for Rehabilitation presented to the Minister for Health in 1957 stated that the task of obtaining the necessary statistics as to the numbers and types of disabled persons was extremely difficult. Even the figures given were presented with some reserve, as they gave no indication as between adult handicapped and juvenile handicapped persons. As I said, I am prepared to consider sympathetically applications for the establishment of schools for the treatment of these people.
Mr. Brennan
Could the Minister ascertain from the 25 schools concerned the number on the waiting lists for admission to those schools?
I could, perhaps. I shall look into the matter and see if there is any waiting list.