asked the Minister for Education if he is yet in a position to formulate his plans for the education of mentally retarded children following the report issued by the commission set up for that purpose.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mentally Retarded Children.
72.
I would refer the Deputy to my replies to similar questions of 16th June and 11th November, 1965. The examination mentioned in these replies has not yet been completed.
As far as I can recollect, the replies on previous occasions were to the effect that the Minister was waiting for the report to be published. I understand that the report has now been published for four or five months and is the Minister not in a position now to offer the House some encouragement that something will be done?
The publication has to have the observations of all the interested parties and this examination is not yet completed.
I appreciate that, but surely the Minister accepts the urgency of the situation? Will he not take it as a matter of priority that something should be done? Why should we lag behind other countries in regard to this matter?
I do not accept that there is any lagging behind. There is considerable activity about the matter in the Department but, while the urgency of the matter is fully appreciated, it would not warrant any haphazard activity or planning.
Surely the Department can do something about it rather than frustrate everybody else who is trying to do something?
There is, and has been, quite considerable activity by the Department in this matter. If that activity does not apply to all areas, it does not mean that there is not activity.
Would the Minister not agree that there is necessity for urgently dealing with this question? The Department are lagging very much behind in this matter and there is a considerable waiting list for schools for mentally retarded children.
The solution of this matter is not yet in sight but there is plenty of activity in the direction of finding a solution to the problem.
Would the Minister not consider that the voluntary organisations could be much more useful in this matter than a Government Department? We have evidence of this in Cork where the Cork polio organisation has made tremendous advances in providing care for mentally handicapped children.
The voluntary organisations get every assistance they require from the Department.
They have had nothing but frustration from the Minister's Department.
There was one voluntary organisation which sought recognition for a certain standard of IQ which was almost non-existent in the district.
The organisation with which I am concerned was told to go ahead and when they looked for assistance to the Department they were frustrated.