asked the Minister for Education the number of mildly retarded children receiving special tuition in the country.
16.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Retarded Children.
14.
asked the Minister for Education the number of moderately retarded children receiving education in special schools in the country.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 16 together.
There are approximately 1,520 children receiving education in special national schools for mentally handicapped children. Of these, about 970 are mildly handicapped and 550 are moderately handicapped. In addition, there are 90 children in schools for the emotionally disturbed and 140 in schools for children suffering from cerebral palsy.
Are all these children receiving this education in separate schools? Perhaps the Minister does not understand.
They are not all in the one school.
Are mildly, moderately and the third category of mentally handicapped children mentioned all in separate schools or are any of them together?
Separate from what?
Each other.
Are mildly retarded and moderately retarded children taught in the same class?
Generally speaking, no, or in the same school as far as possible.
But it does happen.
As far as I know, it does not.
It does happen.
15.
asked the Minister for Education the number of mildly retarded children awaiting special tuition in the country.
17.
asked the Minister for Education the number of moderately retarded children awaiting admission to special schools in the country.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 17 together.
It would not be possible to furnish the information sought until a survey of the position has been carried out. The nature and extent of such a survey will depend on the recommendations of the Commission on Mental Handicap.
Do I take it the Minister does not know or has not the means of finding out what the number of children is?
A full survey has not been carried out here or in any country in the world. Estimates have been made.
Last week the Minister for Health was able to tell us how many severely retarded children there are. It seems rather strange that the Minister for Education does not know how many mildly or moderately retarded children are awaiting admission.
Severely retarded children are probably all hospitalised. Estimates have been made on samplings of the population, but a full survey has not been done.
Could the Minister not give us what he has?
No. It would be an estimate only and would not be of any use.
We should be glad to hear it.
Put down another question.