Vol. 490 No. 7
30 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to establish a school for conductive education in Ireland which would be based on the techniques used by the Peto Institute in Hungary. [10961/98]
Conductive education is an intensive programme of exercises and training for children with severe physical disabilities. It is provided by a team of teachers, physiotherapists, speech therapists, psychologists and the parents of the child concerned.
Parents and professionals, including teachers, have visited the Peto Institute in Hungary and taken part in the courses conducted there. Experts from the institute have visited Ireland to give lectures and demonstrations on the techniques involved. Some of the approaches in conductive education are being implemented in this country in the special schools for children with physical disabilities. Integrated classes using the conductive education approach have been established in special schools in Bray and Cork city. It is not intended to establish a special school using the conductive education approach at present but my Department would look sympathetically at proposals to establish services along the lines of those already in operation in Cork and Bray.
I would point out that involvement of the health services would be essential for any such undertaking as most of the professionals involved are from the health area.
