asked the Minister for Education when a teacher will be appointed to the school for hearing-impaired children in Cootehill, County Cavan; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that an undertaking was given that a teacher would be appointed for the school year starting in September last; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cootehill (Cavan) Teachers Appointment.
8.
My Department have recently authorised the recruitment of a teacher for a special class which is to be established for hearing-impaired children at St. Michael's junior national school, Cootehill, County Cavan. The further arrangements are now a matter for the chairman of the board of management of the school.
It was hoped that the class would be in operation from the start of the current school year. However, it was only recently confirmed that a sufficient number of suitable pupils would be available for enrolment and it was not possible to authorise the recruitment of a teacher until this was established.
I welcome the announcement that the Department have sanctioned the appointment of a new teacher for this particular class. If the Department were not aware that a sufficient number of pupils were available they have been sadly lacking in their duties. I have no doubt that this class will be an outstanding success and will be a leader for many such classes throughout the country. The Minister will have to accept that it is a sad reflection on our education system that the parents of those children had to literally squeeze this concession out of her Department and that, considering the burden which is on them in rearing such children, they had to march on the Dáil to get——
We must proceed by way of supplementary questions, Deputy.
Will the Minister ensure that the information gleaned from this exercise will be put to the benefit of other such children throughout the country because it is vitally important to them, particularly at this time of such cutbacks?
Approval in principle was taken quite some time ago. But on 11 September the Department's inspector reported that, of the original ten children proposed for enrolment to the class, the admissions committee had selected four only for placement in the class. It was subsequently reported that an additional two children were proposed for enrolment. This was the reason for the delay. We had to be assured that there were six eligible children before we could finally approve the appointment of a teacher. On 11 September four children only were selected by the admissions committee. Therefore the Deputy will see that the delay was not the fault of the Department. I am glad to report that the other two children have now been brought in and that the school is up and running.
I find it difficult to accept that because——
A question, please, Deputy.
——unfortunately there was never any doubt but that there were sufficient numbers of children to establish this class in Cootehill. It is my belief that sufficient departmental inquiries were not made.
Deputies are continuing to make statements. Question No. 9.