Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 19 Apr 2000

Vol. 518 No. 4

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

266 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans his Department has to provide education facilities at primary and secondary levels for children suffering from Down's syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12013/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

Children suffering from less serious forms of Down's syndrome can be capable of participating in the education system on a fully integrated basis, with the support where necessary of the resource teacher service or the special needs assistant service.

Arising from a Government decision of October 1998 all children with special needs within the primary system, including children with Down's syndrome, now have an automatic entitlement to the support services they require to enable them to participate fully in the education system. The services in question may take the form of resource teacher support or special needs assistant support, or both, depending on the particular needs involved. Already, as a result of this development, my Department has allocated more than 300 extra resource teachers and more than 700 extra special needs assistants to support special needs children, including children with Down's syndrome, within the primary sector.

Children with Down's syndrome who attend second level schools on a fully integrated basis are supported by special extra tuition allocations and child care support if necessary.

In some cases the level of special need involved can be such as to warrant placement in a special school or a special class attached to an ordinary school. A range of such facilities is provided to cater for the variety of levels of need which can arise. Each special school and special class operates at a reduced pupil teacher ratio. The ratios in question can vary from 11:1 in the case of children with a mild general learning disability to 6:1 where more severe disabilities are involved. The pupil teacher ratios applicable in all cases are in line with those recommended by the special education review committee. Children attending all such facilities also attract special rates of capitation funding and have access to special funding for the purchase of specialised equipment where required.

I can assure the Deputy of my commitment to ensuring that all special needs children, including children with Down's syndrome, receive the support they require to enable them to derive maximum benefit from the education system.