Vol. 468 No. 4
436 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Education if she will make capitation grants available for children attending ordinary national schools who have special needs, such as cerebral palsy, physical disablement resulting in co-ordination difficulties with writing and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15169/96]
Capitation grants at the rate of £40 per pupil are paid in respect of all pupils, including children with special needs, attending ordinary national schools. It is proposed to increase the level of grant to £45 per pupil for the coming school year. The Special Education Review Committee recommended that the capitation grant payable to ordinary schools in respect of pupils with disabilities and-or special educational needs, who have been assessed and satisfy the criteria for enrolment in special schools or classes, should be that which would be payable if the pupils were enrolled in special schools or classes. An action plan has been drawn up with the aim of giving effect to the review committee's recommendations over a target period, having regard to likely resource availability and the need to prioritise responses. I have adopted a positive approach in relation to the review committee's recommendations and wish to see them implemented as quickly as possible.
