Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Jun 2000

Vol. 520 No. 5

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

19 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans he has to establish a central information and education support centre to facilitate parents and teachers coping with the needs of children with specific learning difficulties. [16150/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

As Minister for Education and Science I am committed to ensuring the delivery of an effective educational support service for all children with special educational needs, including children with specific learning difficulties. I would also be most anxious that the system should operate in a manner which is fully responsive to parents and teachers who are coping with the needs of children. All fully qualified primary school teachers are trained to deal with a variety of reading problems, including those which are accompanied by perceptual difficulties. In addition, the special training programme for remedial teachers includes a module on specific learning disability.

Where the condition is of a more serious nature, children with specific learning difficulties may attend their local school where they can be supported by the special resource teacher service. In this connection, I would point out that arising from a Government decision of October 1998 all children with special educational needs within the primary system, including children with specific learning difficulties, now have an automatic entitlement to a response to their needs. Indeed, since this decision was taken the number of resource teachers in the primary system has increased from 104 to 450 and is continuing to grow as needs are identified. Special in-service training is provided by my Department's in-career development unit for teachers catering for children with special needs, including children with specific learning difficulties.

Where the parents of children with special needs, including specific learning difficulties, are concerned, I would be anxious that the system should be as responsive and supportive as possible. In this connection, I would point out that a special planning group is currently finalising work in my Department on an overall review of our approach to special education services. The remit of this group is to make recommendations on the arrangements which should be put in place to ensure the most effective provision of a high quality co-ordinated service at all levels of the education system for students with special needs.

The issues raised by the Deputy in relation to support for parents and teachers of special needs children, including children with specific learning difficulties, are among the matters being addressed by the planning group. I expect to receive the report of the planning group in the near future and I can assure the Deputy that I will respond as positively as possible to any proposals which will contribute to supporting parents and teachers of children with special needs, including children with specific learning difficulties. The Deputy will be aware that I have also recently announced the establishment of a special task force to review the adequacy of current support services for children with specific learning disabilities – dyslexia – and to make such recommendations as are considered appropriate for the development of services in this area. My objective is to ensure the most effective and efficient education services for the children in question.