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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 5

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

John Bruton

Question:

164 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the services and facilities, if any, available to children with special needs in south Meath at pre-school and primary school level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12406/99]

Four resource teachers have been allocated to primary schools in County Meath to support children with special needs who are attending ordinary schools on a fully integrated basis. Details of the schools in question.

Four visiting teachers provide a service for children with special needs in County Meath. In addition, a number of primary schools have special classes catering for children with a number of disabilities as follows:

Disability

School

No ofSpecialClasses

Mild General Learning Disability

St. Mary's, Trim

1

Autism-Autistic Spectrum

Scoil Mhuire, Navan

1

Emotional Disturbance

St. Oliver Plunkett, Navan

1

Specific Speech and Language Disorder

St. Mary's, Trim

2

There are two special schools in County Meath. St. Ultan's special school, Navan, caters for children with a mild general learning disability. St. Mary's special school, Navan, caters for children with a moderate general learning disability.
In 1998, I held a national forum for early childhood education. My objective in holding the forum was to allow all groups with an interest in the area of early childhood education to put for ward their views as to how best to co-ordinate and support the future development of services in this area.
The report on the outcome of the forum has now been received in my Department and is being considered as part of the preparation of a White Paper on Early Childhood Education, which will set out the Government's proposals for future development of services in this area.
In advance of the White Paper, I recently announced an allocation of £1.2 million for special initiatives on early education. My intention is that this funding will be focused in particular on the development of early education services for children with disabilities.
My Department does not, at present, fund any pre-schools for children with special needs in County Meath.
Appendix 1
Location of the four resource teachers in County Meath together with the schools each serves:

St. Declan's, Ashbourne

BASE

Scoil Mhuire, AshbourneGaelscoil na Cille

St. Patrick's NS, StamullenSN Treasa, Bellewstown

BASE

Cushenstown NSLaytown NSCurragha NS

St. Mary's NS, Trim

BASE

St. Michael's NS, Trim

Kilbride NS, Clonee, County Meath

BASE

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