Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jun 1992

Vol. 421 No. 6

Written Answers. - Teaching Services for Downs Syndrome Students.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

59 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Education if he will outline the additional teaching services which are available for children with Downs Syndrome who are attending ordinary national schools; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by some parents regarding the failure of his Department to replace regular tuition from special remedial teachers which, up to last summer, had been paid for by parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Mr. S. Brennan)

The special needs of Downs Syndrome children attending ordinary national schools are provided for in a number of ways.

In the first instance, such children benefit from remedial tuition provided by the 945 remedial teachers operating within the primary school system.

In addition, as part of the recent distribution of new teaching posts under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, six new special resource teachers were allocated to groups of schools which have handicapped children, including Downs Syndrome children, in ordinary classes. The role of the resource teacher is to act in support of ordinary teaching staff in addressing the special needs of these children.

A further development which is currently being pursued and which is relevant to the concerns to which the Deputy refers is the expansion of the visiting teacher service.

Already, six additional teachers have been appointed to the visiting teacher service. The intention is that these additional teachers, together with those of the existing service who currently focus on children with visual and hearing impairment, will form the basis for a generic service embracing other clinical groups. Initially, it is intended that the expanded service will embrace children with Downs Syndrome as well as the visually and hearing impaired.

This expanded service will continue to encompass the necessary level of specialist expertise to enable it to deal successfully with the range of disabilities involved.

Arrangements are being pursued to give full effect to the expanded visiting teacher service at the earliest possible date.