The reason is that parents throughout the country now wish to have slow learners educated in normal primary schools' special classes with adequate supports. I am the first to admit that we are striving to provide those adequate supports. At present the supports are not as good as we would wish them to be. However, in regard to the particular school concerned a second major problem is that in this primary school in Galway we have one 19-year old, a number of 18-year olds and several 17-years olds. In fact, there are only 16 pupils in the school who should be in a special primary school.
It is a serious matter of concern to Department inspectors and psychologists and the Brothers of Charity, who are the trustees of the school, that this situation should continue. I should also like to point out to Deputy McCormack that there are ten teachers in the school at present. If we were to apply the normal pupil-teacher ratio, four of those teachers would have to leave the school immediately. In fact, four of those teachers will be on the panel next June. Therefore, in line with all the recommendations from all the experts in the field of special education the intention is to integrate, the students as far as possible, into special classes and into normal schools, with additional resource teachers in the Galway area. This is in line with the policy now being pursued by the Minister and has been welcomed by parents throughout the country. I want to add that any pupils in this school who are in need of continued special schooling will receive that special schooling in an alternative arrangement as a result of the new arrangements now being put in place.