Tony Gregory
Question:348 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science the timescale for the integration of two schools (details supplied). [29847/01]
Written Answers. - Schools Amalgamation.
The issue raised by the Deputy forms part of a comprehensive range of proposals which have been put forward by a special planning group which was established to consider the development of a national centre of excellence for the visually impaired. The proposals brought forward by the planning group envisage the development of a national centre of excellence at Drumcondra, Dublin. The national centre would deliver a comprehensive range of professional support services for the visually impaired from pre-school level to young adulthood. The services in question would be available to all pupils on the Drumcondra campus and on an Outreach basis to students with visual impairment throughout the country. The proposals also envisage the development at Drumcondra of a full range of educational support services for visually impaired girls of first and second level age.
I can assure the Deputy of my commitment to ensuring that adequate educational support services are made available to all students with visual impairment. My commitment in this regard is reflected in the fact that I secured additional funding of £500,000 in the current year to facilitate the appointment of additional staff at the existing schools for the visually impaired at Drumcondra. However, the Deputy will appreciate that the recommendations brought forward by the planning group, including those relating to the development of services for visually impaired girls, involve a range of complex issues which require careful evaluation. As part of this process, my Department will shortly be appointing a project management team to undertake a detailed feasibility study of the existing facilities at Drumcondra and the likely cost factors involved in the proposed development.