Vol. 487 No. 2
86 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give an estimate of the number of children with disabilities in ordinary classes; and the proportion of these who are receiving no additional support beyond that which the class teacher or the school may be in a position to provide. [3612/98]
It is estimated that there are approximately 8,000 children with special needs attending primary schools on a fully integrated basis. Precise data on the number of these children who are not in receipt of a special support service is not readily available.
A total of 1,242 remedial teachers, 77 resource teachers and 42 visiting teachers are deployed to assist children with special needs in mainstream primary schools. This includes a total of 54 remedial teachers, 32 resource teachers and 2 visiting teachers newly appointed for the current school year.
The Government's programme, An Action Programme for the Millennium, gives particular priority to this area through its commitment to equal opportunity and the priority it attaches to the provision of remedial teachers and resources for children with special learning difficulties. It is my intention to honour this commitment and to ensure that children with special needs receive the supports they require to enable them to participate fully in the education system.
I am reviewing provision across the special needs area to ensure that all available resources are targeted to achieve maximum benefit for the children in question.
