Written Answers - Special Needs Services.
Ivor Callely
Question:
36
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Education
the special supports and facilities, if any, available for people with a disability; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that people with a disability have been denied their educational rights; her understanding of the educational services in place for people with a disability; if she has satisfied herself in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
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Pupils and students with disabilities have access to a wide range of special support services which are tailored to meet the variety of special needs which can present.
In many instances, pupils at primary and second level with special needs are capable of being catered for in the ordinary school setting with the help, where necessary, of remedial teachers, resource teachers or visiting teachers. In more serious cases, the needs of the pupils may be such that placement in a special school or special class attached to an ordinary school, is the most appropriate response. A wide range of such facilities is available. Each such facility enjoys a significantly reduced pupil teacher ratio and has access to special additional capitation funding. My Department makes every effort to ensure that no person with a disability is denied access to an adequate education service.
Since my appointment as Minister for Education, I have targeted significantly increased resources on services for children with special needs. I have allocated an additional 241 remedial teachers and 39 resource teachers to the primary sector. There is now a total of 1,188 remedial teachers and 46 resource teachers in place in primary schools. I have also sanctioned the appointment of additional teachers to the visiting teachers service. At second level, there are 350 ex-quota remedial teachers and 131 resource teachers in place.
I have reduced the pupil-teacher ratio in all special schools and special classes and I have substantially increased the rate of special capitation funding payable in respect of children attending such facilities.
The White Paper on Education, "Charting our Education Future", sets out the Government's policy for the provision of suitable education services for pupils with a disability. A fundamental objective of the White Paper is to ensure to the maximum possible extent that all persons with disabilities will have access to suitably resourced education services in their own area and within the ordinary school system.
The position in relation to the third level sector is that, following on the report on Access and Participation of Students with Disabilities in Higher Education, the Higher Education Authority provided £290,000 in 1996 in targeted funding for special initiatives being undertaken by the universities to cater for disabled students. These initiatives include access programmes, student liaison projects, counselling services and braille and sign language services.
I have also established a special fund of over £100,000 per annum to assist students with physical disabilities. Students can apply for assistance either by way of special equipment such as voice activated computers, braille computer printers, laptop computers, radio aids or services such as interpreters, personal care assistants, transport and extra tuition.
The needs of disabled students are taken into account in the design of all new buildings and improvements to existing buildings.
I am satisfied that the measures which I have already taken, coupled with the strategy for development outlined in the White Paper, will ensure that all persons with a disability will have access to a range of services which will enable them to reach their full potential in the education system.
