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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 7 Feb 1995

Vol. 448 No. 6

Written Answers. - Special Needs Children.

Robert Molloy

Ceist:

160 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Education the steps, if any, that are being taken by her Department to provide educational equality for special needs children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2749/95]

Over the past two years I have implemented a range of measures to improve educational equality for special needs children.

I have allocated an additional 186 remedial teachers to ordinary primary schools. This brought the number of such teachers in place to 1,133.

Over the same period, I have appointed an additional 20 resource teachers with the role of supporting ordinary teaching staff in meeting the special needs of children with disabilities attending ordinary schools.

I have also substantially increased the special capitation rates payable to special schools and classes dealing with pupils with special needs.

My Department has recently announced a scheme whereby eligible schools may receive funding towards the provision of escorts on special school transport services. This scheme will also provide funding towards the cost of a safety harness in appropriate cases.

I have also sanctioned the appointment of an additional 10 psychologists to the school psychological service.

In keeping with the commitments contained in the Government's policy agreement A Programme of Renewal, I propose to maintain this momentum in the current year.

In my statement on the 1995 Estimates, I indicated my intention to retain 340 teaching posts in the primary system. These posts would otherwise have been lost due to falling enrolments. The availability of these posts will enable me to target further teaching supports at special needs pupils. In deploying these posts I will be guided by the recommendations of the special education review committee.

I hope to anounce details of these allocations in the very near future.

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