Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 7

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

37 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the position with regard to the appointment of care attendants and resource teachers in schools where children with a mental handicap attend; his views on whether there is a considerable shortfall in meeting the educational needs of these children; his further views on whether Government expenditure is adequate to meet these needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12790/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I recently announced a major new initiative in the special education area under which all children in the primary system who have been assessed as having special educational needs arising from a disability will be entitled to an automatic response to those needs.

The level and nature of the response in each case will depend on the assessed needs of the child or group of children involved. The response may take the form of full-time or part-time resource teacher support or child care support, or both, depending on the children involved and the nature of their needs.

Following my announcement my Department engaged in consultations with the education partners with a view to preparing a circular for issue to primary schools setting out the entitlement to automatic response for special needs pupils and outlining how applications can be made. This work has now been completed and the circular will issue to schools within days.

I can assure the Deputy that the necessary resources to support this important new initiative are being made available and indeed are already being deployed. For example, since my announcement of the new initiative on special needs, an additional 46 full-time and 26 part-time resource teachers have been allocated. Also, over the same period, an additional 247 special needs assistants have been allocated to cater for children with special needs.

I am also pleased to inform the Deputy of my decision to reduce the pupil teacher ratios in all special schools and special classes catering for children with mild learning disabilities; children with moderate learning disabilities; children with emotional disturbance; and children with physical handicap.

These reductions will bring the pupil teacher ratios in all special schools and special classes down to the level recommended by the special education review committee and represent the full implementation of one of the key recommendations of that committee.

In addition, I have allocated £3.4 million over the next two years to facilitate the introduction of escorts on all special school transport services and the provision of safety harnesses on such ser vices where required. This measure will come into effect from September next. I have also allocated an additional £800,000 over the next two years for the purchase of special equipment for children with disabilities.

I am satisfied that the measures which I have outlined and the resources which have already been deployed to support these measures, provide concrete evidence of the commitment of this Government to ensuring that all children with special needs receive the support they require to enable them to gain maximum benefit from the education system.

The approach which we have adopted on funding is that the teaching and childcare resources will be provided on the basis of professional assessment and not constrained by allocations.

As Minister for Education and Science, it is my intention to continue to build on the very significant progress which has already been achieved in this area.