Vol. 490 No. 7
47 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Education and Science the measures, if any, he has taken to implement the High Court decision in relation to the O'Donoghue case on the education entitlement of mentally handicapped young people. [11091/98]
My Department's response to the educational needs of children with severe or profound mental handicap is in keeping with the judgment in question.
Children with severe or profound mental handicap are provided for in special class settings at a maximum pupil-teacher ratio of 6:1. Each class has the services of a fully qualified primary teacher and child care assistant support. The Deputy will appreciate that the needs of these pupils are such as to require a multi-disciplinary support service involving health care as well as educational inputs.
There are currently 78 special classes for children with severe or profound mental handicap. These classes provide an education service to, approximately, 460 pupils. A number of applications for the establishment of additional classes for such children are currently being pursued by my Department.
