Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 23 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 7

Written Answers. - Child Care Assistants.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

24 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will extend the care assistant scheme to cater for special needs pupils who have been integrated into mainstream primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15006/98]

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

88 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the appointment of classroom assistants for pupils with special needs; and if he will have arrangements made for the appointment of an assistant for a person (details supplied) in west Cork from September 1998. [14938/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 24 and 88 together.

I am aware that a child care assistant post has been requested in the case to which Deputy O'Keeffe refers. My capacity to allocate additional child care assistant posts in any year is dependent on resource availability and the level of competing demand from other special needs areas. I have to determine priorities and allocate available resources to best effect.

At present, my Department has a total of 275 child care posts in place in the special education system. To date, the focus has been on addressing the needs of special schools and special classes and, in particular, the needs of children with severe or profound mental handicap. However, I am aware of the growing demand for support for children with special needs attending ordinary schools on a fully integrated basis.

Many schools throughout the country have secured the services of classroom assistants through participation in FÁS community employment schemes. While such assistance is very much valued by the schools in question, it is the case that more needs to be done in terms of targeting the specific needs of some children with disabilities in ordinary school settings.

I am currently reviewing my Department's overall response to the needs of children with disabilities who are attending ordinary schools on a fully integrated basis. As part of this process, my Department is in discussion with FÁS in an effort to develop a scheme which will make child care support available on a basis which specifically targets the needs of the children concerned.

I assure Deputy O'Keeffe that the needs of the child to whom he refers will be considered in the context of any additional allocations of child care assistants which may be undertaken.