Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 1

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

John McGuinness

Question:

183 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide immediate assistance and support to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in spite of a report from the national educational psychological service granting him ten hours resource tuition, no action has been taken by his Department to date; if he will take action in the case and insist that the person, who is also being tested for attention deficit hyperactive disorder is given full access to proper education. [31272/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I am aware of the child referred to by the Deputy. Enrolment in second level schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of individual schools and my Department does not interfere in decisions made by schools in such matters. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking second level places in an area. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

The national educational psychological service, NEPS, is available to all post primary schools recognised by my Department. NEPS can advise on the management of any difficulties that pupils might experience and which may present problems in a school setting. Where appropriate, it can also advise on any educational supports that might be required to ensure that a pupil's time in school is as productive and positive as possible. In order to progress this case further a questionnaire has issued to the child's mother which will help identify his educational needs and provide my Department with her written permission to contact schools and NEPS on behalf of her child.

My Department allocates concessionary teaching hours to second level schools to cater for the needs of special needs pupils enrolled therein. Applications for such support are made to my Department by the relevant school authorities. Each case is considered on its merits and determined on the advice of the psychological service. The authorities of the school referred to by the Deputy applied for additional teaching resources to cater for a number of pupils with identified special needs. My Department has recently approved one wholetime teacher equivalent to cater for the educational needs of these pupils needs, including the pupil referred by the Deputy.