Vol. 517 No. 2
139 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps, if any, he will take to provide an additional special class in a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath to help children who have speech problems in view of the fact there is a waiting list for admission to the special speech therapy class; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9440/00]
There are two special classes in the Mullingar area catering for children with speech and language disorders. One of these classes is located in the school to which the Deputy refers. The other special class is based in The Downs national school. These special classes operate at a maximum pupil teacher ratio of 7:1 and are therefore capable of catering for up to 14 pupils.
The Deputy will appreciate that, as a junior school, the school to which he refers only caters for children from junior infants to second class.
My Department does not have specific data on the number of children in the County Westmeath area awaiting admission to such classes. However, any application from a school in the area for the establishment of such a class will be given every consideration by my Department.
The Deputy will be aware that such classes can only be established in close co-operation with the relevant health board which has responsibility for providing the necessary speech and language therapy services for such children. The availability of such services on a full-time basis is vital to the success of such special classes.
