Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 December 2007
339 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the circumstances in the matter of her recent altercation with the authorities at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if her attention has been drawn to the degree of hurt, anxiety and distress caused to the principal and the school authorities; if she will extend an unqualified apology for her remarks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35961/07]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware I have made a particular point of visiting as many schools as possible as well as attending school openings. This practice affords the opportunity of engaging with principals, teachers, pupils and parents and allows me and them to raise issues of interest and concern. In the course of a visit to another school I met with the principal of the school referred to by the Deputy. I took the opportunity that our meeting presented to raise an issue which I considered to be of serious concern. I know you shared this concern as some of your previous parliamentary questions raised this particular issue, which was the failure of the school to open a special unit which had been provided for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The Unit in question had been built at the taxpayers' expense and my Department was willing to provide the appropriate staffing resources. Despite this the Unit had not opened some four years after the school opened its mainstream classes.
My Department's Officials have been in regular contact since 2004 with the School Authorities in an effort to progress the early opening of the autism classes. My Department's Officials also contacted the Educate Together Patron Body to seek its assistance in opening the classes and the National Council for Special Education also met and was in regular contact with the School on this issue. I am sure the Deputy will agree that the children with autism who could benefit from these facilities have to be accorded priority and it was in this context I raised the issue of the delayed opening with the principal.
The Unit in question is now open and I am sure that the pupils and staff will enjoy a positive enriching education system.
