Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Dec 1998

Vol. 497 No. 5

Written Answers - Special Educational Needs.

John Bruton

Ceist:

339 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will appoint a trained full-time classroom assistant to St. Joseph's national school, County Meath, for a person (details supplied) who has Down's Syndrome and who needs special care immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25546/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers. I recently announced a major new initiative in the special education area under which all children assessed as having special educational needs will be entitled to an automatic response to those needs. The level and nature of the response in each case will depend on the assessed needs of the child or group of children involved. The response may take the form of full or part-time teacher support or child care support, or both, depending on the number of children involved and the nature of their special needs.

The school in question is one of a number of schools which have applied to my Department for the services of a special needs assistant. All such applications are currently being considered in the context of this new development in special needs provision.

The process of allocating additional special needs assistant posts has already commenced and will continue through 1999. I can assure the Deputy that the needs of the child to whom he refers will be considered in this context.