Cecilia Keaveney
Ceist:130 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to an association (details supplied) in County Donegal regarding a Down's syndrome issue. [12513/98]
Written Answers. - Special Education Needs.
I am aware of the case made by the association in question in relation to educational provision for children with special needs attending mainstream schools. The Government's Action Programme for the Millennium attaches key importance to ensuring that people with special needs have equal opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of society. It is my intention to honour this commitment through maximising the opportunities for special needs children to participate in the education system on a fully integrated basis.
The Education (No. 2) Bill, as published, contains statutory safeguards for the rights of children with special needs. In particular, on the enactment of the Bill, boards of management will have a statutory duty to ensure that the educational requirements of children with special needs are provided for. Boards will be required to have, and to make publicly available, their admissions policies and there will be structures for appeal by parents. In addition, I have now proposed a number of amendments to the Bill, with the aim of clarifying areas of concern, of addressing, as far as practicable, the concerns expressed and of further strengthening the rights of special needs children.