Vol. 576 No. 1
211 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if and when he intends to establish a national resource centre for the blind and visually impaired; the arrangements which have been made for the education of visually impaired girls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29288/03]
Arising from the report of a planning group, which was established to consider proposals for the development of a National Centre for the Visually Impaired, the Department engaged a project team to consider an overall development strategy for the implementation of the planning group's report. The report of the project team was presented to the Department towards the end of 2002.
Having given careful consideration to the matter, I decided in April 2003 that the national centre as proposed should not proceed, having regard to the low and declining pupil numbers in the schools for the visually impaired and the development costs, estimated to be in excess of €30 million.
However, the Department proposes to explore with the school authorities concerned how aspects of the proposed centre could be developed, in the context of available resources. The patron-trustees of both St. Joseph's Special School and Pobalscoil Rosmini in Drumcondra, which make educational provision for the visually impaired, have been advised accordingly. I advise the Deputy that both St. Joseph's Special School and Pobalscoil Rosmini have become coeducational in recent months
