Vol. 500 No. 2
74 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to conduct a survey of children with special education needs in view of the fact that it is now over five years since the last survey of this nature was conducted. [3624/99]
I am not satisfied with the overall level of information available to my Department in relation to children with special needs within the school system. While significant information is available in relation to children attending special schools and special classes, there is a particular need to develop more comprehensive data on children with special needs attending ordinary schools on a fully integrated basis. Arrangements are being made to address this matter in the context of my recent announcement of a major new development in special education services.
Under this new development, all pupils who have been assessed as having a special need arising from a disability are now entitled to an automatic response to that need. The response may take the form of extra teaching support or child care support, or both, depending on the needs of each individual child. My Department is currently finalising a detailed circular and information note which is expected to issue to all primary schools before the end of February. The purpose of this exercise is to alert all schools to recent developments in support services for special needs children and to advise schools on how to apply for support under this initiative.
Details of each of the disability categories identified by the special education review committee will be included in the information package. Schools catering for any such children will be required to provide detailed information on the number of children involved; their ages; the nature of their disabilities; and the support required. Information provided by schools under this initiative will be of significant assistance to my Department in identifying the overall number of special needs children within the system and the nature and level of special needs involved. If, following an analysis of the data received, it is considered that additional information is required, the necessary surveys will be carried out.
