Vol. 488 No. 1
252 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 146 of 16 October 1997 the reason the problem has not been resolved in relation to the need to ensure a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 is immediately admitted to a school with a speech therapist within reasonable reach of his home and in view of the strong school and medical evidences supplied (details supplied). [5407/98]
My Department has been actively engaged in seeking to arrange suitable educational provision for the child in question. Proposals for the establishment of a new special class for children with a speech and language disorder at Scoil Ardmhuire, Belgard, Tallaght, are currently being pursued. The child in question is one of a number of pupils for whom this new facility would be intended.
As recognised by the Deputy, the availability of a speech therapy service would be essential to the operation of any such facility. My Department is currently in discussion with the relevant health authority in order to secure the necessary speech therapy service.
