Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 18 Jun 1996

Vol. 467 No. 1

Written Answers. - Special Needs Schools.

Mary Wallace

Ceist:

208 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Education the number of teachers in each special needs school in County Meath; the particular specialities offered in each school; and the links, if any, they have with mainstream schools. [12520/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The number of teaching posts sanctioned by my Department in the two special schools in County Meath are as follows:

School	Staffing
St. Ultan's, Navan	Principal plus ten assistant teachers
St. Mary's, Navan	Principal plus nine assistant teachers

St. Ultan's special school specialises in the delivery of suitable education services to children who have been assessed as having a mild mental handicap. The pupil-teacher ratio for such children is 14:1.

St. Mary's special school deals primarily in the delivery of suitable education services to children who have been assessed as moderately mentally handicapped. The pupil teacher ratio in this case is 10:1. St. Mary's also has two special classes for children with a severe or profound mental handicap. Such children are catered for at a pupil teacher ratio of 6:1 and child care assistant support is also provided.

The schools in question would have ongoing contacts with mainstream schools in their areas. Such contacts would largely relate to matters connected with the transfer of children between the schools and would be most likely to arise in relation to children with a mild mental handicap.