Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 14 May 1997

Vol. 479 No. 3

Written Answers. - Special Education Needs.

Helen Keogh

Ceist:

90 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Education the resources, if any, she proposes to provide in order to ensure that children with disabilities and learning difficulties are enabled to take an active and equal part in education which is integrated in every way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13060/97]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

Since my appointment as Minister for Education I have deployed significant additional resources to facilitate access to education services on a fully integrated basis for children with disabilities and learning difficulties.

Measures which I have already taken include the allocation of an additional 241 remedial teachers and 39 resource teachers to meet the specific needs of these children. I am also considering the possibility of allocating further remedial and resource teacher posts to the primary sector for the forthcoming school year.

The White Paper on Education "Charting our Education Future" sets out the Government's policy for the provision of suitable education services for pupils with special needs, both in an integrated environment and in special educational facilities.

The fundamental objective is to ensure to the maximum possible extent that all children with special needs will have access to suitably resourced education services in their own areas and within the ordinary school system. The White Paper sets out detailed proposals for the achievement of this objective, including the establishment of a national data base to facilitate planning of provision for all students with disabilities and the designation of a number of ordinary schools as centres where children with particular disabilities may be educated. I am satisfied that the measures which I have already taken, coupled with the strategy put forward in the White Paper, will ensure to the maximum possible extent that all children with special educational needs will be capable of having those needs addressed in their own areas and on an integrated basis.