Written Answers. - Physically Handicapped Children in Education.
Austin Currie
Question:
187
Mr. Currie
asked the
Minister for Education
the provision being made by her Department to ensure suitable transport and other necessary facilities at schools attended by physically handicapped children; if she has satisfied herself that the level of such provision is sufficient to ensure equality of educational opportunity for handicapped children.
Austin Currie
Question:
205
Mr. Currie
asked the
Minister for Education
the provision that is made by her Department to provide adequate educational opportunities for physically handicapped children; and the extra human and material resources that are provided to ensure that equality of opportunity is a meaningful concept.
Austin Currie
Question:
206
Mr. Currie
asked the
Minister for Education
the co-operation that exists between her Department and the Department of Health to ensure equality of educational opportunity for physically handicapped children; and if she has satisfied herself with the level of such co-operation.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 187, 205 and 206 together.
My Department makes provision for children with physical disabilities in a variety of ways. Depending on their particular disabilities and special educational needs, they can attend special schools, special classes in ordinary national schools or can be integrated into ordinary classes in primary or post-primary schools.
Many children with physical disabilities attend ordinary classes in their local school and transport is arranged by my Department where required. Favourable consideration is also given to requests for funding to adapt school buildings to facilitate access for such pupils.
There are seven special schools for pupils with physical disabilities at primary level, four of which are located in Dublin and one each in Cork, Limerick and Bray, Co. Wicklow. All the schools in question have the services of a Child Care Assistant and therapy, medical, nursing and care facilities are provided by the health authorities. The schools in question have a pupil teacher ratio of 14:1 and three of them have the services of an additional teacher to cater mainly for a number of children with communication difficulties. In addition, special school transport arrangements are made for these children.
There is one special class for children with physical disabilities at primary level and this is based in Galway.
Educational provision is made for pupils in five Dublin hospitals which have the services of eight teachers funded by my Department.
Provision for students with physical handicap at post-primary level is made in three designated second-level schools. Two of these schools are in Dublin and one in Cork. Additional teachers are provided in each of the schools to cater for the special needs of these students. Additional support is provided in each school through the services of a Child Care Assistant and a nurse, funded respectively by my Department and by the health authorities.
In addition, my Department operates a home tuition scheme, which is designed to meet the needs of physically handicapped children who have been absent from school for protracted periods due to illness or hospitalisation. Under this scheme, the parents engage a teacher for a number of hours each week and my Department meets the cost.
There is extensive co-operation with and support from the health authorities in the provision of educational services for children with physical handicaps. This is particularly so in cases of more severe disability where co-operation from doctors, nurses, therapists and child care personnel may be essential.
I am conscious of the ongoing need to review the adequacy of overall provision for children with special needs, including transport arrangements and co-operation between my Department and the Department of Health. In this connection, I will be giving serious consideration to the recommendations of the Special Education Review Committee which was established to address there issues.
