Vol. 450 No. 4
44 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Education if she will reconsider the position whereby qualified Montessori teachers will be recognised as eligible to teach in the conductive education area and the special education area in general. [5114/95]
80 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Education if she will reconsider the position whereby qualified Montessori teachers will be recognised as eligible to teach in the conductive education area and the special education area in general. [5115/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 80 together.
Conductive education involves the use of skills traditionally associated with a number of professions — physiotherapy, nursing, occupational therapy, speech therapy and teaching — by one person, known as a conductor. The conductor interacts intensively with the child using a high degree of physical manipulation. This system is used with children who have severe physical disabilities, usually due to cerebral palsy. The philosophy behind this approach is that motor development underpins development in other areas of functioning such as general physical development, co-ordination, speech and language development, perceptual and intellectual development.
The Montessori diploma, awarded on successful completion of the three year full-time course at the Montessori College, Dundrum, is already recognised by my Department in the special education area.
