Vol. 509 No. 6
578 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science if the unsatisfactory position will be investigated in relation to his Department's Athlone office for special needs for the Kildare area being open to telephone queries for two hours, two days a week on Tuesday and Thursday; if a better arrangement will be ensured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21258/99]
Due to the large volume of work in the special education section of my Department, a telephone answering service during the period from 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. each afternoon was introduced in March 1999 to deal with inquiries relating to services for special needs pupils. This system was in operation until 15 October 1999. Since that date, telephone inquiries are being dealt with during normal office hours.
My objective is to ensure that all requests for special education services, including requests in respect of children in the Kildare area, are responded to as speedily as possible and that the children in question receive the support to which they are entitled without due delay. I assure the Deputy that applications are being processed as speedily as possible within my Department's special education section, having regard to available resources and the need to ensure that each child's application receives appropriate expert attention.
