Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Jun 1995

Vol. 454 No. 2

Written Answers. - Organisations Representing People with Disabilities.

Mary Wallace

Question:

52 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education the names of any organisations representing people with disabilities with which she has met during the last three years; the number of occasions she has met with these groups; and the plans, if any, she has to further consult with these groups. [10456/95]

Minister for Education (Ms. Bhreathnach)

In the past three years I have met a wide variety of organisations which represent people with disabilities. These include: National Association for the Mentally Handicapped, National Rehabilitation Board, Down's Syndrome Association, Donegal Down's Syndrome Association, St. Mary's School for the Hearing Impaired, IAT St. Pat's, St. Paul's Special School, ISPCC, Irish Wheelchair Association, National Association for the Mentally Handicapped of Ireland and National Association of Boards of Management in Special Schools.

I have also held a number of meetings, both formal and informal, with organisations which, inter alia, include people with disabilities. Therefore, it is not possible to give an absolute number of organisations or meetings.

As the Deputy is aware, my Department published the report of the Special Education Review Committee in 1993. I participated in the seminar on the report organised by my Department and attended by a large number of groups and organsations representing people with disabilities which was held in Dún Laoghaire in 1994. My Department has set up a task force to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of this report. I have a particular interest in this area of education and I intend to maintain my contact with these various organisations in the future.