Vol. 502 No. 3
582 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received his Department's inspectorate report on a primary school for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin to ensure she receives an adequate education in view of her physical disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7660/99]
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department recently sanctioned an allocation of five extra hours special tuition per week to assist the school authorities in catering for the special educational needs of the child in question.
583 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Edu cation and Science the resources, if any, he has provided in the Swords area for children with learning disabilities; if he increased the number of resource and remedial teachers in any of the primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7661/99]
651 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to provide a facility in a primary school in Swords for special learning disorders; when he will make this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8390/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 583 and 651 together.
My Department's inspectorate is currently investigating the possibility of establishing a special class for children with specific learning disabilities in the Swords area. In September 1998 a remedial teacher post was allocated on a shared basis to three primary schools in the Swords area.
Arrangements are currently being made in my Department to extend the remedial teacher service to all first and second level schools in the country from September next. Any schools in the Swords area which are currently without a remedial service will benefit from this extension. Also from September next it is intended to extend the home/school/community liaison service to all first and second level schools in the country which have disadvantaged area status. Any qualifying schools in the Swords area will benefit from this development.
I recently announced a major new development in special education provision under which all pupils with special educational needs in the primary system will be entitled to an automatic response to those needs. The response in question may take the form of additional resource teacher support or child care support, or both, depending on the particular needs of the child. Pupils attending schools in the Swords area will be entitled to benefit from this development.
My Department will shortly be issuing detailed circulars advising schools, including schools in the Swords area, of the procedures to be followed in seeking to avail of this important new development in special education services.
Schools in the area will, of course, benefit from my recent announcement concerning the reduction in class sizes in primary schools and the retention of teachers in secondary schools.
