Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 6

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Alan Shatter

Question:

368 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of High Court cases taken against his Department in each of the years from 1990 to 2000 due to its failure to provide care facilities for disturbed children and children with special needs; the number of applications made to the High Court in each such case in each year; the number of children on whose behalf such proceedings have been brought; the ages of each child on the date when such court proceedings were initiated; the arrangements in place for the care of each child; the legal costs incurred by the State in respect of fees paid to counsel; the legal costs which the State has been held liable to discharge as a result of court orders made against it in such proceedings; and the number of cases in which the calculation of costs is outstanding. [9096/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department.

I will arrange to forward the information to the Deputy as soon as possible. However, because of the extensive detail sought by the Deputy, I anticipate that it may take some considerable time to furnish this information.

Dan Neville

Question:

369 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science when a computer will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who is dyslexic and needs this facility to continue his education. [8735/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

My Department operates a scheme for the provision of grants for second level schools towards the purchase of equipment for the use of pupils with certain disabilities or communication difficulties. Under the terms of the scheme the school authorities make an application in respect of an individual pupil. I understand that the Deputy raised the issue of the pupil in question with officials in my Department in November 1999; my officials contacted the school authorities at that time to ensure that the school was fully informed about the scheme and to advise the school that it could submit an application on behalf of the pupil. No application has been received by my Department in respect of that pupil. My officials were in touch with the school authorities recently and were advised by the school that it considers that it is not in the best interests of the pupil to encourage him to use a computer during class as his handwriting is legible. The school also advised that should the situation change it has a sufficient supply of computers already and would not need to make a specific application in respect of the pupil.

Richard Bruton

Question:

370 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the resources, if any, made available to assist a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 with special needs; the criteria used to determine the level of support; and the arrangements made with a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5 to source the necessary support. [8736/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I have requested my Department's inspectorate to investigate and report on the matters raised by the Deputy.

I will be in further contact with the Deputy as soon as the inspectorate's report has been received and considered by my Department.