asked the Minister for Education if he will remedy the position which has arisen in Marlborough Street school, Dublin, where a class for retarded children is without any textbooks owing to the failure of his Department to give the necessary requisition.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Textbooks for Retarded Children.
42.
Mr. O'Leary
No application for a supply of textbooks for the special class in question was made to my Department until about a fortnight ago when the teacher in charge made oral application. He was informed that on his furnishing a list of the books required to the Department through the Inspector - Manager arrangements would be made to have the books supplied. The list was furnished by the teacher concerned to the Inspector-Manager on Friday last and has been received in my Department this morning.
Mr. O'Leary
Is it the case that this class of very crucial cases of mentally retarded children was without textbooks and equipment for a considerable period?
I do not think that is so. I think the position was that the previous teacher had made arrangements to have a supply of textbooks which he considered suitable but that the new teacher, having done a special course, wanted to see supplied the books recommended in that course. As I said, the application has now been received from the teacher and the Department will supply these books.
Mr. O'Leary
The case was that there was no textbook up to a fortnight ago for this class of 40 children. Was the position that this class had no equipment for this type of child?
That is not my information. My information is that they had the textbooks and equipment but not of the kind which the present teacher wanted to get on the basis of what had been recommended to him.
Is the Minister aware that a teacher in the same class stated that no books were available to them in their efforts to teach the children and also that the condition of the room in which the children were being taught was entirely disgraceful?
I am not aware of it, nor did I have any notice of it.
To my knowledge, the teacher had no place to sit down in the classroom.
If the Deputy wants to put down a question on this, he should do so. I should like to have some notice of it.
Would the Minister not consider looking into it?
Question No. 43.