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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 24 May 1972

Vol. 261 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Special Schools.

14.

asked the Minister for Education if he would give financial help for the extension, improvement and upkeep of the private school for mentally retarded children at Mallow, County Cork.

There are four recognised special schools in Cork city which cater for the educational needs of mildly and educable moderately mentally handicapped children in the city and county. I do not consider that there is a need for the recognition of another such school in the area.

Does the Minister agree that the facilities for the treatment of mentally retarded children, not only in Cork city and county but throughout the country, are entirely inadequate and, if so, will he have another look at this proposal?

I do not accept what the Deputy has said. In fact, in no section of the educational system has such an advance been made as in the education of mentally handicapped children and in so far as Cork is concerned, I have pointed out that there are four schools there and that transport is available from many areas to these schools.

Would the Minister be able to tell me and the House the waiting list there is for admission of mentally retarded children to schools?

I have not got that information here but I can again repeat and the Deputy, if he will examine the position, will find that, in no area has there been such progress made and in no instance is there something of which we can be so proud as the excellent work that has been done by my Department in relation to the provision of education for the mentally handicapped.

Surely the Minister must agree that if there is a private school for mentally retarded children at Mallow, that indicates the need for such a school in Mallow? Would he not agree, then, to provide funds for the extension of the services provided by that private school? The existence of the school indicates the need for it.

That certainly does not follow. What I have pointed out is that we have got four schools and that these schools, in our estimation, are capable of fulfilling the needs of the mildly mentally handicapped and of those who are educable.

If you have a waiting list, how do you know whether they are capable of catering for the needs or not? If a private concern is willing to make up the ground where the Department has failed in the past, even though it is making some advance recently, the Minister should give every encouragement to that private concern.

I am, in fact, giving every encouragement.

It appears that the Minister is not conversant with the situation.

Will the Deputy put a question?

Will the Minister not agree that if the school at Mallow is extended with the help of State funds, the burden on the four schools in Cork will be correspondingly reduced and as a result the intake of children there will increase? Is the Minister not aware that it is exceptionally difficult to get accommodation for mentally handicapped children in Cork at the present time and that parents travel around from both bishops down to the humblest public representative in an effort to influence the school authorities to accept mentally retarded children? This is a disgraceful position. If Mallow is prepared to help to solve the position in Cork county, why not allow them to do so because that would have beneficial repercussions throughout the county and city?

I do not see any need to repeat what I have already said.

The Minister is completely wrong. While there has been reasonable progress there is room for a great deal more to be done.

The Minister should be aware of the great difficulty existing not only in Cork, but on a national basis, with regard to mentally handicapped children and their education. This is a grave national problem and the Department of Education are lacking in their duty.

We are discussing Mallow.

I will have to reply to that. There is no question about the fact that the Department of Education has done exceptional work in recent times in relation to mentally handicapped children. It is absolutely wrong that the Deputy should suggest that it is lacking in its duty. In fact, I can say here that there are no more dedicated people than the people in the Department who are dealing with the education of the mentally handicapped.

I want to say that there are no more dedicated people but I want to question the Minister's reply to me when he said that great progress has been made. I admit that progress has been made but progress is one thing and demand is another. You have not supplied 25 per cent of the demand for education of mentally handicapped children. I know it, because I am on a committee that deals with mentally handicapped children. There is a three year waiting period in some schools for the admission of children.

I have given a full reply to the question.

The Minister is unable to reply.

Question No. 15.

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