Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 4

Adjournment Debate. - Special Educational Needs.

Mr. Browne(Carlow-Kilkenny): I thank the Minister for coming into the House to reply to this matter, details of which I have supplied. I also express by appreciation to the staff of the Department of Education and Science, Athlone, particularly Annabel Fitzgerald, who dealt so courteously and kindly with the issues I raised.

This matter arose because of a 15 year old boy attending this school who suffers from cerebral palsy and needs full-time assistance. The board of management paid £15,000 last year to provide personal assistants for this boy and another boy. Those of us on boards of management are well aware they do not have enough money. It was unfair that the board had to use this money which could have been spent on facilities for the rest of the pupils. However, I was informed today that a personal assistant will be appointed for this boy and I appreciate that development.

However, there are other problems in the school. There are ten classes in the school comprising children with mild learning difficulties. Every four classes are entitled to a personal assistant so there are two and a half assistants. However, half an assistant is no use to two classes. I presume that will increase to three assistants and I am asking the Minister to provide an additional assistant for the ten classes.

Other grades of classes have what they need. Up to lunchtime today, they had three children who needed personal assistants, but now they have two. One of these children has been assessed by the inspector twice and been judged as needing a special needs assistant. These children are severely handicapped and we should be able to look after those who cannot look after themselves when the country is flowing with milk and honey. I look forward to a positive answer from the Minister and hope that the teachers, parents and children can look forward to September knowing they will have the assistants they require for this school which deals with special children.

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I am pleased to have this opportunity to assure the Deputy and the House of my commitment to ensuring that the special educational needs of all children with disabilities within the education system are fully met by the Department of Education and Science. The House will be aware that, arising from a Government decision in October 1998, all children with special needs within the primary system, including children attending special schools, now have an automatic entitlement to the support they require to enable them to succeed within the education system.

The supports in question may take the form of special resource teacher support or special needs assistant support, or both, depending on the assessed needs of the individual child. Already, as a result of this development, the number of special needs assistants deployed in the primary system, including the special school system, has grown from 299 in October 1998 to 1,095 at present. The number of special needs assistants in place is increasing on an ongoing basis as further needs are identified and responded to.

As a general rule, allocations of special needs assistant support are made on the basis of the levels of such support recommended by the special education review committee. That committee recommended specific levels of special needs assistant support for each disability category. However, in some situations, usually because of the particular needs involved, the level of special needs assistant cover required in a particular school may have to be increased. Each case is examined by the Department of Education and Science inspectorate on the basis of the assessed needs of the child or children involved and, where required, additional special needs assistant support above the norm is provided.

The special school attended by the 15 year old boy to whom the Deputy refers caters for children with a range of special needs. This school currently has an allocation of eight special needs assistant posts from the Department.However, arising from consideration of the case made on behalf of the boy in question, my Department is making arrangements to allocate an additional special needs assistant post to cater for the boy's needs. My Department will be in touch with the school authorities in relation to this matter very shortly.

With regard to the second pupil mentioned by the Deputy, I understand that special needs assistant support has already been made available to the school to assist this pupil. However, in view of the issue raised by the Deputy, I am asking my Department's inspectorate to review this case to ensure that an adequate level of special needs assistant support is made available to the child in question. The school authorities will be advised of the outcome of this review as soon as possible.

As Minister for Education and Science, it is my intention to ensure that no child with special needs will be deprived of the support they require to enable them to reach their potential within the education system. My commitment is reflected in the manner in which the cases raised by Deputies are being responded to and in the major increase in resources which are now being devoted to the special needs area. It is my intention to continue to build on these developments.