asked the Minister for Education whether there are any proposals to extend St. Angela's Language and Learning Unit, Scoil Chaitríona, Baggot Street, Dublin 2, and to place the unit with its facilities and resources on a permanent basis to cater for language disordered children in the Southern Greater Dublin area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Facilities for Language Disordered Children.
10.
The Deputy will be aware that official sanction was given to the facility in question only because of the special relationship which had been established between the pupils and teacher, prior to it being recognised by my Department. I should also mention that three of the four children currently enrolled there came from addresses in the north city which are much nearer to the special class facilities for the language and learning impaired attached to St. Patrick's national school, Drumcondra. In the circumstances, it is not proposed to lift the restriction relating to the enrolment of new pupils.
Therefore my Department have no proposals at present to extend or make permanent the special class facility for the language and learning impaired at Scoil Chaitríona, Baggot Street, Dublin 2.
Perhaps the Minister might take an interest in this question because I am aware that she was taking a personal interest in this whole area. I am saddened by the reply given.
Is the Minister of State aware that some children attending this unit were being allocated to mentally retarded units prior to its establishment? Is he aware that, in one case, a child made fantastic progress since the establishment of this unit? Additionally, is he aware that this is a well recognised problem in both the United Kingdom and the United States? Furthermore, is he aware that the Ursuline Sisters have specialised in this area, incurring considerable expense in training one of their sisters to establish this unit? Finally, is he aware that the unit in Drumcondra was established after the one in Baggot Street and that it was on the basis of the Baggot Street unit that the Drumcondra one was established? I would appeal to the Minister and the Minister of State not to allow the Ursuline Sisters services be dispensed with in such a frivolous manner by the closure of this unit.
There is no intention to close this unit; it is simply a question of restricting the enrolement of new pupils. It has to do with the fact that there is adequate provision in St. Patrick's national school, Drumcondra, as indeed there is in a number of other schools throughout the city, for the young pupils concerned. I agree with Deputy S. Barrett that very good work is being undertaken in this school but so also is there a good work being done in the other schools in question. I might remind the Deputy that when my predecessor, Deputy Kenny, agreed to the recognition of this school, it was on a strict, temporary basis.
Is the Minister aware that his predecessor established this unit contrary to pressure emanating within the Department not to so? Is he aware that the unit in Drumcondra was established after the proven success of the Baggot Street one? Is the Minister aware that, in reply to a written question on Wednesday, 1 November in relation to the unit in Drumcondra, this year eight applications were received for enrolment in the current school year, three of which have been selected to fill vacancies? In relation to the remaining five——
I have allowed Deputy S. Barrett a lot of latitude on this question. He now appears to be quoting which is not in order at Question Time.
The point I am making is that the other five applicants have not yet been placed while the unit in Baggot Street is being allowed to run down.
The Deputy has made his point adequately.
Surely it is only sensible that those five children should be given an opportunity of being facilitated in Baggot Street?
On the basis of the evidence available, the need for additional special classes over and above the existing facilities has not been established. However, in view of the comments the Deputy has just made, I will investigate further the requirement of additional places to those already in existence and report back to the Deputy on the matter.