Vol. 509 No. 3
150 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress, if any, made in relation to the submission by the Central Remedial Clinic, Vernon Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin 3, for approval for a transition year in view of the special needs of its pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20243/99]
The proposal to which the Deputy refers has been considered by my Department.
In normal circumstances, pupils leave the special school system at the end of the school year in which they reach their eighteenth birthday. In certain circumstances, such as in the case of a pupil studying for State examinations, my Department may sanction an additional year in a special school. However, it is generally the case that where suitable alternative educational provision is available to the students, an additional year would not be sanctioned.
The proposal to which the Deputy refers centred on allowing an additional year's attendance at the special school for five particular students who would normally have left the school at the end of the last school year. As there is a vocational training centre on the same campus and the programme proposed by the school for these students was similar to the service available at the vocational training centre, it was considered that a general introduction of an additional year's attendance at the special school would constitute a duplication of existing supports.
However, the particular needs of each of the students in question were reviewed by my Department and arising from this review, three of the five pupils were granted an additional year in the school based on their individual special educational needs.
