Vol. 471 No. 3
47 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has to provide school places for children with behavioural problems who, due to the problems referred to, have been excluded from schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20737/96]
Under the Rules for National Schools, no pupil shall be struck off the rolls for breaches of discipline without the prior consent of the patron and unless alternative arrangements are made for the enrolment of the pupil at another suitable school.
At second level the managerial authorities of each school are responsible for ensuring that a fair and efficient code of behaviour, encompassing rules, sanctions and procedures, is drawn up and applied in the school. My Department, through its guidelines on school discipline, lays considerable stress on the use of suspensions and expulsions only as a last resort.
In cases where parents experience difficulties in having their child readmitted to the mainstream school system, my Department gives assistance in securing a suitable school placement through the intervention of its inspectorate. In addition, my Department's psychological service is available to assess pupils with special needs in order that the most appropriate provision can be made.
In addition, the Deputy may be aware that I have introduced a pilot scheme of teacher-counsellors which is intended to offer special targeted support to selected primary schools encountering particular difficulty in coping with disruptive and disturbed pupils.
The key role of the teacher-counsellor is: (a) to co-ordinate a whole school approach to devising and implementing good practice and strategies which will help prevent the occurrence of disruptive behaviour; and (b) to teach and counsel small groups and individuals who exhibit persistent behaviour difficulties in the classroom.
The pilot scheme has been introduced in the Tallaght-Clondalkin area and in the north inner city of Dublin. A total of 27 teacher-counsellors have been deployed to date and the scheme is being closely monitored by my Department's inspectorate.
Where more severe behavioural difficulties are identified as a result of an assessed emotional disturbance on the part of a child, placement can be arranged in one of 14 special schools dedicated to the needs of such children.
The Deputy will also wish to note that the health authorities have recently developed a number of special residential facilities to cater for children with serious emotional and behavioural difficulties. Each such unit is designated as a special school by my Department and attracts favourable staffing and funding allocations.
