asked the Minister for Education (a) the number of schools for mentally retarded children in Dublin city and county; (b) the total attendance at these schools; and (c) the total number of children awaiting admission to these schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Mentally Retarded Children.
28.
The reply to the information requested at (a) and (b) is in the form of a tabular statement which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to have circulated with the Official Report.
My Department are not generally supplied by the individual schools with information as requested at (c). The matter of requesting such information would normally arise only where there was question of the provision of additional accommodation in the case of a particular school.
Following is the statement:—
SPECIAL National Schools for Mentally Handicapped Children in Dublin City and County.
Mildly Mentally Handicapped
Number of Recognised Schools—5.
|
Location of School |
Number attending |
|
1. St. John's, St. Augustine's Street, Dublin |
44 |
|
2. Treasa Naofa, Temple Hill, Blackrock, County Dublin. |
146 |
|
3. St. Michael's Holy Angels, Glenmaroon, Chapelizod, County Dublin. |
240 |
|
4. St. Augustine's, Obelisk Park, Blackrock, County Dublin. |
252 |
|
5. St. Ciaran's, Church Avenue, Dublin 9. |
120 |
|
Total: |
302 |
Moderately Mentally Handicapped
Number of Recognised Schools—7.
|
Number attending |
|
|
1. St. Michael's House, Grosvenor Road, Dublin, 6. |
61 |
|
2. St. Michael's House, Ballymun, Dublin. |
101 |
|
3. Stewart's Hospital, Palmerstown, County Dublin. |
54 |
|
4. St. John of God, Dunmore House, Glenageary. |
55 |
|
5. St. John of God, Islandbridge, Dublin. |
108 |
|
6. St. Vincent's, Navan Road, Dublin. |
103 |
|
7. St. Michael's House (Temporary) Phibsboro. |
24 |
|
Total: |
506 |
Why is the information in relation to parts (a) and (b) of the question in the form of a tabular statement? I asked for the number of schools. Surely it would not be too difficult for the Parliamentary Secretary to say what is the number.
I thought the Deputy might have wanted further information. The number of schools are: five catering for mildly mentally handicapped and seven for moderately mentally handicapped.
What is the total number of children awaiting admission? Is it not possible to have this figure?
It is not.
How could decisions be reached regarding improved accommodation if there was no information as to the number of children awaiting accommodation? There could not be a policy on expanding these schools if there was no indication of the numbers awaiting admission. This indicates a lack of any policy on the part of the Department.
We only know the number of people awaiting admission when we receive requests from the schools concerned.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not have some idea of the number?
No.
That shows a lack of any policy in this regard.
It shows the Deputy's omniscience.
I am showing up the incompetence of one Parliamentary Secretary.
That is the best way of ensuring his promotion.