Vol. 486 No. 6
307 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if the provision of resources to fund special education, including a child care assistant for St Bríd's special school for the mentally handicapped, Castlebar, County Mayo, is the responsibility of his Department. [3027/98]
310 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will uphold his Department's responsibility and continue the necessary payments to retain the vital post of child care assistant for a school (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that the school will have no option but to close down a class which will have a serious and detrimental effect on its pupils following the expiration of funds from the Western Care Association for this post. [3045/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 307 and 310 together.
My Department has a responsibility to ensure that all children, including those attending the school in question, have access to an appropriate education service.
My Department meets this responsibility through the allocation of teaching and other support personnel and through funding allocations.
In the case of St. Bríd's special school in Castlebar, my Department has sanctioned seven teacher posts. This reflects the reduced pupil-teacher ratios applicable to the children attending the school. In addition, my Department has allocated three child care assistant posts to the school to assist the teaching staff in meeting the needs of the children.
I understand that the Western Care Association, which has been funding a further child care assistant post at the school, had indicated that it might not be in a position to continue this funding and that the post was in danger of being lost to the school.
However, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that following contact with the Western Care Association, it has now been established that the association will continue to fund this post pending a transfer of responsibility for the funding in question to my Department.
