Vol. 457 No. 8
28 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Education if she will grant-aid the association for children with learning difficulties to assist with the cost of printing its recently published book of children's poetry and their organising costs. [15868/95]
I regret that there are no funds available to my Department which could be used to grant-aid the activities referred to by the Deputy. My understanding is that this book was produced for fund-raising purposes by the association and it is not primarily intended as a school textbook.
Where children with special needs are concerned, including those with learning difficulties, my policy is to concentrate available resources on the development of school based supports.
My Department recently decided to support the activities of the association for children and adults with learning disabilities by paying the remedial teachers involved in a part-time teaching scheme organised by the association.
My Department is currently reviewing the range of services provided for children with specific learning difficulties. The object of this review is to determine what additional educational provision, if any, needs to be made to better meet the needs of the children in question. I am very much aware of the valuable work carried out by the association for children and adults with learning disabilities. Representations received from the association will be fully considered in the context of the review to which I have referred.
