asked the Minister for Education (i) the extent of educational facilities currently available for language and hearing impaired children, (ii) the location of these facilities, (iii) whether speech therapy services are provided and by whom, (iv) if she will indicate the referral procedures to each of the aforementioned facilities, (v) if any educational teaching aids or/and equipment have been provided by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Language and Hearing Impaired Children.
38.
My Department have sanctioned three special classes for language/learning-impaired pupils in the Dublin area which cater in all for 22 pupils. One is located in Drumcondra, another at Belgard, Tallaght and the third is, at present, attached to a school in Baggot Street.
In addition to the three special classes mentioned above, facilities for language disorder also exist at Ballinteer, for preschool language-disordered children and in special classes at the Temple Street and the Mater Hospitals. The hospital facilities are for children suffering from more than one handicap, including language-disorder.
Facilities are also available in various other types of special schools and classes for the handicapped, as in many cases the children suffer from additional disabilities such as hearing impairment, emotional disturbance, physical or mental handicap or reading disability and the language-disorder may not be the primary cause of referral in such cases.
The Eastern Health Board provide a speech theraphy service on a part time basis to each of the three special classes. In the case of the facilities at Drumcondra and Tallaght, children are referred to the special classes through the assessment and diagnostic services of the Eastern Health Board and the voluntary bodies including the voluntary hospitals. The facility located in Baggot Street was established for a specific group of children and the enrolment is restricted to the pupils currently attending. Accordingly the question of referral procedures does not arise in that case.
The Department pay a capitation grant of £96 per year in respect of each pupil enrolled in the special class for the duration of its operation. The grant may be used among other things for the purchase of educational equipment but details of the purchases made by the school authorities are not readily available.