Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 4

Written Answers. - Mental Handicap Services.

Richard Bruton

Question:

223 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education the progress which has been made on the recommendations of the working party on the education and training of severely and profoundly mentally handicapped children which were made in 1983 in so far as they involved her Department with particular reference to the proposals that (a) teachers be introduced to day care centres at a ratio 1:12, (b) schools for children with moderate handicap which admit persons with severe and profound handicaps would get extra resources and (c) a comprehensive transport service would be provided to centres.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

Arising from the recommendations to which the Deputy refers, there are now 17 teaching posts dedicated to severely and profoundly mentally handicapped children.

The children in question are catered for either in special classes attached to schools for moderate mental handicap or in special care units serviced by a specially allocated teacher. At present there are eight such special classes and nine care units involved. The pupil teacher ratio in such cases is 12:1.

Where transport is required for such children, they are fully facilitated either under the special school transport system or, if necessary, through the provision of grant assistance to enable parents to make private transport arrangements.

Richard Bruton

Question:

224 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the number of persons (a) with a physical handicap, (b) with a mild mental handicap, (c) with a moderate mental handicap, (d) with a severe mental handicap and (e) with a profound mental handicap who are in the primary or special school system; and if she will further outline in respect of each, the number in (1) integrated national schools, (2) special classes and (3) special schools; and if she will make a statement on her proposals for the development of services for persons with a handicap.

Richard Bruton

Question:

225 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will outline the pupil/teacher ratio and/or extra teaching assistance which she provides for schools which are catering for children with a physical handicap or with different degrees of mental handicap.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 225 together.

The following are the details requested by the Deputy:

1990/91 School Year.

Type of handicap	Pupil Teacher Ratio	No. of persons in Special Schools	No. of persons in Special Classes	Total
Physically handicapped	14:1	464	None	464
Mildly mentally handicap	15:1	3,508	1,649	5,157
Moderate mental handicap	11:1	2,073	46	2,119
Severe/profound mental handicap	12:1	—	200*	200

*These children are catered for in special classes attached to schools for moderately handicapped children.

The number of handicapped children attending ordinary classes in primary schools is not readily available.

Under theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress, there has been an improvement in the current year in the pupil teacher ratio applied to special schools as follows: Mildly mentally handicapped 15:1 (reduced from 16:1); moderately mentally handicapped 11:1 (reduced from 12:1); Physically handicapped 14:1 (reduced from 15:1)

One of the important recommendations made by the Primary Education Review Body under Dr. Tom Murphy was that a special committee be appointed to examine and report on the educational services for pupils with handicaps.

In pursuance of that recommendation, I have recently established that committee with Mr. Declan Brennan, former Secretary of my Department as chairperson. The question of what further development is needed in the provision of educational services for children with handicaps will be considered in the light of their report.