Vol. 456 No. 5
89 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education the number of meetings held by the task force on the implementation of the report of the Special Education Review Committee; the membership of the task force; the timetable for implementation of the various recommendations of the committee; the extent of her own involvement in the work of the task force; and whether she will publish a review of the work of the task force. [14213/95]
91 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education the comparative per capita costs of the various options proposed by the Special Education Review Committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14221/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 91 together.
The task force to which the Deputy refers met in full session on three occasions. However, in between these sessions, various members of the task force held a series of working sessions which were devoted to particular aspects of the Special Education Review Committee Report. The task force was comprised of representatives of my Department's special education section, the schools inspectorate and the school psychological service. My aim is to give effect to the committee's recommendations as speedily as possible, having regard to available resources.
I have been closely monitoring the work of the task force and, as indicated to the Deputy in my reply to Question No. 113 of 4 July 1995, significant progress has already been made in the implementation of the report. In the light of the recently published White Paper which sets out the future framework for educational developments, including developments in the special needs area, I would not consider it appropriate to publish the work of the task force. My Department has estimated the cost of implementation of the review committee's recommendations at approximately £56 million.
