asked the Minister for Education what plans he has to meet the requirements of mentally retarded children throughout urban and rural areas in the country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teaching of Mentally Retarded Children.
113.
At present there are 27 schools specially recognised for the purpose of giving education to certain types of mentally retarded children.
The question of extending the scope of State activity in this field must await consideration of the Report of the Commission on Mental Handicap.
Could the Minister indicate what types of mentally retarded children are dealt with in the 27 schools?
There are 20 for mentally retarded children, four for maladjusted or emotionally disturbed children and three for children suffering from cerebral palsy.
As the Minister is no doubt aware, there is a child known as the mildly retarded child. Is there any scheme, any plans or any school for such children?
There is a difficulty about classification. If the Deputy means a child only very moderately subnormal, these can be dealt with in the national schools. Children classified as mildly retarded children receive education——
In ordinary schools?
Yes; it depends on what the Deputy means by the term "mild".
I may be able to assist the Minister. By a mildly retarded child is meant one whose intelligence quotient is above 50 and below 70. Is the Minister aware that many of those children are being taught in ordinary schools to the detriment of the children concerned and the teachers? Has he any plans to deal with that particular type of child and are there schools to deal with it?
It is a matter of providing teachers really. A scheme has already been in operation over the past few years of special courses for training national teachers for special classes to deal with these children.
Are those children to be taught in the ordinary classrooms or is the Minister to provide special classrooms to deal with them?
It is intended to have them specially taught when staff are available. At the moment many are in special classes.
That is the whole point of the question. Could the Minister indicate how many such classrooms there are in the 27 schools mentioned?
I would not have the information according to classrooms.
Could the Minister say if he is in a position to provide free transport to and from these schools?
That is a separate question.
There is a scheme of transport already in operation.
It is a very unsatisfactory one.
I will investigate the possibility of improving it. As Deputies are aware, the whole system of education is based on combined local and central effort.