Vol. 420 No. 3
109 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education if he will outline his Department's policy in connection with the education of mildly mentally handicapped people, in particular at post-primary level; and if he will further outline the post-primary schools in Dublin 3, 5 or 9 which have been assisted by his Department to cater for the needs of pupils assessed as being mildly mentally handicapped.
My Department provides for the education of children with mild mental handicap at primary level in a number of ways.
Integration of such children into the mainstream education is encouraged, where appropriate, but provision is also made for those who cannot be successfully integrated. These children may attend special schools or special classes in ordinary national schools.
At present, there are 32 special schools and 151 special classes for mildly mentally handicapped children. In addition, there have been a number of recent initiatives under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, targeted specifically at the needs of such children.
These initiatives include:
—7 new resource teacher posts
—6 additional visiting teacher posts
—a reduction in the pupil/teacher ratio in special schools for mildly mentally handicapped.
The Special Education Review Committee will be examining the question of appropriate provisions for children with special needs, including those with mild mental handicap, and I will give due consideration to whether additional measures are appropriate in the light of the Committee's recommendations.
The key principle which informs my Department's policy in relation to the education of mildly handicapped pupils at post-primary level is that, where appropriate, such education should be provided in special classes in ordinary schools, rather than in special schools.
