Vol. 475 No. 1
38 Dr. Moffatt asked the Minister for Health the initiatives, if any, he has taken together with the Department of Education to ensure that the recommendations of the courts have been put in place in view of the recent court ruling in relation to the entitlement of mentally handicapped children to primary education. [4329/97]
The provision of primary education services is the responsibility of the Minister of Education.
An interdepartmental committee was established in late 1995 on the recommendation of the Review Group on Special Education. The role of the committee, which is representative of both my Department and the Department of Education, is to identify and make recommendations in respect of existing and anticipated areas of service delivery to children with special educational needs where improved or modified approaches or structures are required; to co-ordinate policy and monitor service delivery on an ongoing basis.
One of the priority areas which the committee is currently examining is the provision of a curriculum-care programme for children with a severe and profound mental handicap.
My Department will continue to work, through the health boards and voluntary mental handicap agencies, to ensure that the additional health and other care needs of this group are met.
