Vol. 506 No. 2
447 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has for the appointment of an extra teacher at the Claddagh primary school, Galway city, for the special class for children with hearing impairments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15424/99]
The possibility of establishing a second class for hearing impaired pupils in the school referred to by the Deputy is currently being investigated by my Department's inspectorate.
The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced a major new initiative in the special education area under which all children in the primary system assessed as having special 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 a full or part-time resource teacher or child care support depending on the number of children involved and the nature of their needs.
Under this new initiative parents of children with hearing impairment have the option to enrol their children in their local primary school with support or to attend a special class for hearing impaired pupils.
