Vol. 572 No. 4
153 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will make available resource teacher support for a person (details supplied) in County Cork which has been recommended following psychological assessment; if such support is not to be made available, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23573/03]
I am aware of an application for resource teaching support for the pupil in question. When the application was made initially, the relevant application form was not submitted and on that basis, no resources could be approved. The relevant information has since been made available to my Department.
All applications for special educational supports received between 14 February 2003 and 31 August 2003 will be examined on the basis of the supporting professional report or reports and in the context of resources already available at the school. The process involves an examination of each application and supporting documentation by a dedicated team of inspectors and psychologists. The schools concerned will be informed of the outcome as early as possible in the current school year. The application for additional supports for the pupil referred to by the Deputy will be considered within this process.
154 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will make available resource teacher support for a person (details supplied) in County Cork which has been recommended following psychological assessment; if such support is not to be made available, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23574/03]
I am aware of an application for resource teaching support for the pupil in question. When the application was made initially, the relevant application form was not submitted and on that basis, no resources could be approved. This information is now available to my Department.
155 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will make available resource teacher support for a person (details supplied) in County Cork which has been recommended following psychological assessment; if such support is not to be made available, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23575/03]
I am aware of an application for resource teaching support for the pupil in question. When the application was made initially, the relevant application form was not submitted and on that basis, no resources could be approved. The relevant information is now available to my Department.
All applications for special educational supports received between 14 February 2003 and 31 August 2003 will be examined on the basis of the supporting professional report or reports and in the context of resources already available at the school. The process involves an examination of each application and supporting documentation by a dedicated team of inspectors and psychologists. The schools concerned will be informed of the outcome as early as possible in the current school year. The application for additional supports for the pupil referred to by the Deputy will be considered within this process.
156 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will make available resource teacher support for a person (details supplied) in County Cork which has been recommended following psychological assessment; if such support is not to be made available, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23576/03]
I understand that the school in question is in the process of making an application for resource teaching support for the pupil referred to by the Deputy. Any application received will be considered in the context of the criteria outlined in the relevant Department circulars.
157 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will make available resource teacher support for a person (details supplied) in County Cork which has been recommended following psychological assessment; if such support is not to be made available, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23577/03]
I am aware that an application was received in my Department for resource teaching and special needs assistant support for the pupil referred to by the Deputy. My Department conveyed sanction to the school on 21 August 2003 for the pupil's access to special needs assistant support.
The national educational psychological service requires additional information in support of the application for resource teaching support. The pupil's parent has agreed to furnish this information to my Department. The application will receive further consideration following receipt of this information.
158 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will make available resource teacher support for a person (details supplied) in County Cork which has been recommended following psychological assessment; if such support is not to be made available, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23578/03]
My Department received an application for resource teaching support for the pupil in question. The application was considered by the national educational psychological service, NEPS. The outcome was that the additional resource could not be granted as the application did not meet the criteria for resource teaching support as per Department circular 08/02. The school was advised of the position on 14 July 2003.
159 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science his Department's policy in relation to meeting the transport needs of pupils diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome; the assistance available from his Department to parents in meeting such costs; if his attention has been drawn to the inadequacy of such payments in meeting the full costs of travel to and from school, particularly where taxis are required; his Department's policy in relation to such children sharing travel arrangements; the assistance that is being offered to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23579/03]
Where special transport cannot be provided, a transport grant may be paid under the terms of the school transport scheme for children with special needs to the parents-guardian of a child to assist with the cost of making private transport arrangements. The scheme also provides that an appeal may be made, in certain circumstances, for an enhanced grant of 63.5 cent per mile. If the families are not satisfied with my Department's decision, they may appeal to the independent School Transport Appeals Board. Application forms are available from my Department's school transport section, Tullamore, County Offaly.
160 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress of the investigation into the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23625/03]
The Deputy will recall that the educational aspects of the case referred to were examined by my Department's inspectorate and that a copy of the relevant report was sent to him on 6 August last. On the basis of that report, I would not see that any follow-up action by my Department is called for.
161 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason there is no specific reference to the provision of resources for children with dyslexia in the Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23655/03]
The purpose of the Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill is to provide a statutory framework within which the education of children who have special educational needs can be guaranteed as a right enforceable in law. The definition of disability in section 1 is intentionally broad in order to be inclusive and I wish to assure the Deputy that children with dyslexia will enjoy the protections conferred by the Bill, once it becomes law.
