Mary Coughlan
Question:68 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Education if a full escort service will be provided for children with special needs attending special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5154/97]
Written Answers - Special Needs Education.
I have no plans at present to extend the pilot scheme of grant-aid towards the provision of escorts on transport services operating to certain special schools and special classes.
In 1994, I announced the allocation of a sum of £150,000 for a pilot escort scheme. All applications for support under this scheme were carefully considered by my Department. It was decided that funding under the pilot phase of the scheme should concentrate on: facilitating the appointment of escorts on services to special schools and special classes catering for children with a physical handicap, and providing assistance towards the cost of escorts for pupils attending the special schools for hearing-impaired and visually-impaired children who travel long distances by bus and train at weekends.
It will be necessary to evaluate the operation of the pilot phase of the scheme before considering any modification or expansion.
The question of escorts on special transport services is one of the issues being considered by the school transport review committee which was established in 1996. I expect to receive the report of this committee shortly.
Eric J. Byrne
Question:73 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Education the number of children with physical disabilities attending mainstream primary and second level schools in each of the years from 1991 to 1996; the proportion of primary and second level schools which are fully accessible; the proposals, if any, she has to facilitate increased participation by children with disabilities in mainstream schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5187/97]
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, in either special educational facilities or in an integrated environment.
The fundamental objective of the commitment in the White Paper is to ensure to the maximum possible extent that all children with disabilities will have access to suitably resourced education services in their own area and within the ordinary school system. The degree to which integration can be achieved will depend on the specific and evolving capacities of the individual children concerned.
The special educational needs of pupils with a physical or mental disability are generally capable of being met within the ordinary school system with the assistance, where necessary of a remedial, resource or visiting teacher for the handicapped.
The information requested by the Deputy on the number of students with physical disabilities attending mainstream primary and second level schools is not readily avbilable within my Department.
In the primary education sector, 38 per cent of all schools have building access for disabled pupils. Statistics are not available at second level.
All new schools grant-aided by the Department of Education are provided with access facilities and special toilets to cater for disabled students. In the architectural design of emergency evacuation routes, account is also taken on the requirements of students with disabilities. New schools with two stories or more are provided with lifts.
Existing schools which make application for grant-aid towards the provision of access facilities for students with disabilities are given consideration in the light of the available capital funds.
A scheme of grants was introduced in 1995 towards the purchase by second level schools of equipment for use of pupils with certain disabilities which make ordinary communication through speech and-or writing impossible for them.