asked the Minister for Education if he has to date formulated any proposals to set up school centres to deal with mildly and moderately retarded children.
92.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Retarded Children.
91.
asked the Minister for Education if he has any schemes ready to implement the proposals made by the Commission set up to study the problem of mentally retarded children.
I propose, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, with your permission, to take Questions Nos. 91 and 92 together.
I would refer the Deputy to my replies to similar questions of 16th June and 11th November, 1965, and 9th February, 1966. The examination mentioned in these replies has not yet been completed.
Could the Minister give any indication as to when he will be able to complete the inquiry and do something about this very urgent problem?
No; I am afraid I could not give any indication at this stage.
Am I right in suggesting that the Minister has had this report to hand for over 12 months?
No, it is a little less, but it is nearly 12 months.
It is 11 months. Could the Minister indicate what the delay is? Surely he appreciates the urgency of the matter?
I appreciate the urgency, and I assume that the Deputy also appreciates the importance and the complexity of the matter and would not want decisions on the various matters dealt with in the report to be made with undue haste, with the necessity for changing course in the near future.
What complexity is there except to open schools for retarded children in several areas in the country? The Minister must know that these are very badly needed.
Surely the Deputy is aware that the Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Mental Handicap deals with more than the opening of schools?
A major proposal in the Report is that schools should be in centres to cover a couple of counties, or one county, if it is a large one. There is no complexity about that.
This is merely one aspect of the Commission's Report.
How can you do anything for retarded children unless you have schools for them?