Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 16 Nov 1993

Vol. 435 No. 9

Written Answers. - Meeting with Parents for Integration Association.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

259 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education if, with reference to her reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 33,448 and 444 on 6 October 1993, representatives of her Department have now met with the Parents for Integration Association; the request put to her Department by the Association; and her response to these requests.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

Officers of my Department's Inspectorate have indeed met with representatives of the Parents for Integration Association and heard their concerns for their children's education.

The main point made by the group's representatives related to the level of support teaching from the Visiting Teacher Service which they considered necessary for their children. Specifically, they indicated that they required one visiting teacher for every four children and that each child should receive five hours' tuition per week from that teacher.

It was pointed out to the group that it is my Department's policy to encourage the maximum possible level of integration of handicapped children into ordinary schools. However, it was also explained that the pace of such development and the degree to which integration can be achieved will vary in accordance with the assessed needs of each individual child.

It was further pointed out that arrangements are being made to extend the support of the Visiting Teacher Service to include additional Down's Syndrome children in ordinary national schools and that a special in-service course for the teachers in question has been arranged to facilitate this. It was emphasised, however, that the specific level of support being requested by the parents could not be provided and that the level of service would in any event be dictated by the needs of the individual child. I should point out that I am giving active consideration at the present time to the Report of the Special Education Review Committee, including that group's recommendations on the supports required to facilitate the integration of children with disabilities in ordinary schools.

I am also arranging a special seminar to discuss that report on 6 December next and I look forward to hearing the views of the Parents for Integration Association on that occasion.