Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 3

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

610 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science when the special teaching support for children attending schools on a fully integrated basis who have been assessed as having special educational needs will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10358/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

In November 1998 I announced a range of important new developments in special education services. The developments in question included an undertaking that all children assessed as having a special educational need and attending ordinary primary schools on a fully integrated basis, would be entitled to an automatic response to their needs.

My Department has been engaged in delivering on this undertaking since the time of my announcement. Significant numbers of additional resource teacher and child care assistant posts have already been allocated to cater for special needs children in integrated settings. The level and nature of the response in each case is based on the assessed needs of the child or group of children involved.

My Department will continue to respond to such cases as they arise. The Deputy will appreciate that the backlog of cases caused due to the previous deficiencies in policy cannot be cleared overnight, but my officials are doing all they can to address cases as quickly as possible.