Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Mar 2001

Vol. 532 No. 1

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

John McGuinness

Question:

388 Mr. J. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to numerous parliamentary questions concerning the issue of the Department's failure to provide a full and proper education for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, he will state the course of action which is intended in the short-term to provide for this person's proper education; the response which has been given by his Department through a person (details supplied) in County Kerry on foot of correspondence he has received on the matter; the reason the Department's response has been so slow in this case; his views on whether this delay should be a source of concern; if immediate steps will be taken to rectify the situation to prevent further hardship and costly litigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6861/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

I can assure the Deputy that I would be very concerned to ensure that all children with special needs, including the child to whom he refers, receive the support they require to enable them to function successfully within the education system. I understand that following a review of the needs of the child in question and other children with special needs attending the same school, my Department allocated a full-time resource teacher post to the school in question. I understand that the person to whom the Deputy refers was allocated 2.5 hours per week one to one tuition from the resource teacher. I also understand that the child is receiving support from the school's learning support teacher.

In view of the concerns expressed by the Deputy, I will ask my Department's Inspectorate to conduct a review of the adequacy of the arrangements put in place for the child in question.