Vol. 482 No. 3
375 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the consideration, if any, which has been given to a submission which was made in April 1997 by the Hyperactive-Attention Deficit Disorder Family Support Group; if his Department will recognise as a separate disorder the attention deficit disorder; if his Department will cease categorising this disorder as educational disturbance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17826/97]
The submission in question was presented to my Department at a meeting with officials on 23 April 1997.
The case made by the Hyperactive-Attention Deficit Disorder Family Support Group has been considered in my Department and my Department's inspectorate continues to monitor developments in this area and to draw the attention of teacher trainers to the condition. However, there are no plans at present to grant separate recognition to the condition for education purposes.
I would point out that many children exhibiting less extreme forms of the behaviours associated with ADHD are being successfully taught within mainstream classes, with the support, where necessary, of remedial teachers.
Where more pronounced forms of the behaviour are exhibited, the children have access to a range of special support services, including:
— special schools for pupils with emotional or behavioural disturbance,
— special support from the resource teacher service, and
— special support from the teacher counsellor scheme.
The Department's school psychological service also plays a role with regard to assessment and educational provision for pupils exhibiting persistent and maladaptive levels of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
