asked the Minister for Education if he has seen a report of a survey which showed that handicapped children attending ordinary day schools had a higher rate of achievement than those at special schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Handicapped Children.
5.
I assume that the Deputy's question refers to a paper read at a recent conference of the Psychological Society of Ireland about a survey carried out in Scotland of the reading and arithmetic attainments of some 100 physically handicapped children in that country.
It is the established policy of my Department that as many physically handicapped children as possible should receive their education in ordinary day schools. This policy has been greatly facilitated by the introduction of free school transport and by the home teaching scheme under which a number of physically handicapped children attending ordinary schools receive supplemental tuition to enable them to maintain the normal rate of progress.
It must be recognised, however, that many physically handicapped children find it impossible to attend ordinary schools because of the severity of their disability and their need for constant medical and para-medical treatment. The education of these children in many cases requires specialised skills and fairly sophisticated equipment. For such children educational facilities must continue to be provided in hospitals and in special schools which are associated with clinics. Approximately 600 children are being catered for in this way—one-third of them in hospitals and the remainder in five special clinic/schools which cater for children on a day basis. In these schools medical, para-medical and teaching staff work together as a team to prepare the child for an independent life. If it is considered that a child's progress will be helped by transfer to an ordinary school every effort is made to arrange such transfer. One cannot but be appreciative of the standard of education provided in these schools and with the rate of achievement of the pupils, having regard to the limitations which their disabilities impose on them.
Could I ask the Minister if he instructs the building section of his Department to take into account the physical difficulties of handicapped children, especially those in wheelchairs, in the physical design of schools?
I think the building section of my Department is sufficiently sensitive to this particular problem to take cognisance of it. I am pleased the Deputy has referred to it because I will take the opportunity of reminding the section about it again.
Is the Minister aware of the severe difficulties experienced by handicapped children in getting to and from schools in the Dublin County Borough?
That is a separate question.
It arises from the reply. Has the Minister any plans to make provision for these children?
If the Deputy would let me know specifically what the problem is and the area in which it exists I will communicate with him.
Is the Minister aware that on occasion his Department is a bit niggardly in sanctioning teachers for special day classes catering for the handicapped?
I would be surprised if the Department could be properly accused of being niggardly in this regard.
So was I surprised.
There are schools in my constituency which are a credit to everyone concerned.
I do not know the report to which the Minister referred but is he correct when he says that the handicapped in ordinary day schools have a higher rate of achievement?
The report shows that. I do not want to enlarge on the scope of the question, except with the indulgence of the Chair, but there is even some scientific research evidence to show that the mentally handicapped in certain circumstances make better progress in normal classes than they do if they are taken out of them and put into classes specially geared for them.
Is the Minister aware there has been a fairly substantial decline in the number of physically handicapped children receiving special education apart from normal schools in recent years? There has been an increase in the number attending normal schools.
I could not give the Deputy statistics but I know the rate of progress over a period was the best in Europe.