Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 14 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 4

Written Answers. - Special Education Needs.

Liam Aylward

Ceist:

241 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will reconsider his reply to Deputy Aylward's Parliamentary Questions Nos. 583 and 584 of 30 September 1997, which referred to a specific case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow who uses a wheelchair; his views on whether the case is of sufficient importance to warrant replies specific to that case alone; and if it is the policy of his Department to address cases of disability in general terms rather than on an individual basis. [16066/97]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

It is normal practice to respond by way of a single answer to a group of parliamentary questions where, as in the case to which the Deputy refers, the subject matter of the response is equally applicable to each of the questions raised.

This practice does not in any way reflect a lack of recognition of the importance of each individual case. I can assure the Deputy that my Department attaches the utmost importance to all cases relating to children with special needs and that all such cases are considered on an individual basis. It is my firm intention that this should continue to be the case.

Indeed, in view of the Deputy's obvious concern for the child in question, and notwithstanding the resource constraints which I have already outlined in the earlier replies, I have requested a member of my Department's inspectorate to contact the child's parents as a matter of priority to discuss possible options for addressing the child's needs.