Alan M. Dukes
Question:75 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of children referred to diagnostic units, for example, St. Francis's Clinic, Temple Street, Dublin 1, who were turned away due to lack of places. [20009/99]
Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.
My Department does not have details of the number of children referred to diagnostic units who were turned away due to lack of places. Such units are generally operated under the auspices of the health authorities and provide diagnostic services for a range of conditions.
Depending on the nature of the need iden tified, a child may be referred to one of a range of special schools or special classes provided by my Department to cater for a variety of special needs. In some cases, children diagnosed as having special needs may be capable of attending mainstream schools on a fully integrated basis, with the support where necessary of a resource teacher or child care assistant, or both. All such children are now entitled to an automatic response to their needs and such responses are being put in place by my Department on an ongoing basis.
In the particular case of St. Francis's Clinic, Temple Street, there is a special school attached to this facility which is capable of catering for up to six children.
The recent establishment of the National Educational Psychological Service, to which additional psychologists are currently being recruited, will also make a significant contribution to ensuring adequate diagnostic services are available for children with special needs.