Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2001

Vol. 537 No. 5

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Ivor Callely

Question:

122 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of places available compared to the demand for places in pre-school and primary school for children with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16886/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

My Department's involvement in the provision of education services for children with special needs of pre-school age is currently confined to a small number of pre-school classes catering for children with autism. Details of the level of demand for pre-school places generally for children with special needs are not available in my Department.

The White Paper on early childhood education sets out a blueprint for the development of the pre-school sector over the period 2000 to 2006, including developments in relation to provision for children with special needs. With a view to implementation of the White Paper, my Department has sought and received proposals from third level institutions for a pilot project to develop and co-ordinate early childhood education provision in pursuance of the objectives in the White Paper. Discussions with the institutions concerned are well advanced and I expect to be in a position to announce details of the project in the near future.

However, in advance of the above developments I recently announced proposals for the introduction of a nationwide pre-school service for children with autism. My Department is currently engaged in developing proposals for this service.

In October 1998, the Government decided that all children with special needs in primary schools should henceforth have an automatic entitlement to a response to their needs, irrespective of their level of need or location. As a result of this development, the number of resource teachers supporting special needs children in integrated settings has increased from 104 to more than 950. The number of special needs assistants supporting special needs children in primary schools has increased from less than 300 to more than 2000 over the same period.

Where children suffer from more serious disabilities, provision can be made in one of a range of special schools or special classes attached to ordinary primary school. There are more than 100 special schools and approximately 400 special classes attached to ordinary primary schools. All such facilities are dedicated to particular disability groups and all operate at special reduced pupil-teacher ratios.

The major development of special education services undertaken by this Government will ensure that all children with special needs in primary schools have access to the support they require. I assure the Deputy that I intend to continue to build on these developments.