Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Disabled Children's Education.

Mary Wallace

Question:

528 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education the current status of plans to designate schools for the education of children with disabilities; the likely number of such schools to be operative within the next 12 months; the resources allocated to such schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15903/96]

Mary Wallace

Question:

537 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education the nature and extent of all initiatives currently in place to tackle the recommendation of the Special Education Review Committee that children with disabilities should only in exceptional circumstances be required to live away from home in order to obtain an appropriate education. [15927/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 528 and 537 together.

The White Paper,Charting our Education Future, states that a number of ordinary primary schools will be designated by education boards as centres where students with particular disabilities may be educated. The concept of the designated school envisaged is part of a proposed continuum of provision aimed at ensuring that children with special needs will have access to a variety of placement options capable of meeting their evolving needs in their own areas. This provision will extend from placements in ordinary primary schools, with special back-up support if necessary, through placement in a designated school, to placement in a special facility dedicated to particular groups.

It is envisaged that the designated schools will be selected on the basis of their capacity to make a positive contribution to meeting the special needs of children with disabilities in their areas and having regard to suitability of locations. In addition to offering specialised support for children with disabilities, the designated schools will provide out-reach support services to special needs children attending ordinary schools in their areas. Special additional resources will be made available to enable designated schools to undertake these functions.

The Special Education Review Committee has made detailed recommendations on meeting the needs of pupils in each category of disability. A special task force has been established within my Department to implement the committee's findings, as resources permit. I am confident that the measures implemented will help to ensure that only in exceptional circumstances will children with special needs be required to live away from home to avail of an appropriate education.