Vol. 527 No. 4
186 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will intervene in a situation where a public card phone in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 20 which caters for children with a mild learning disability and is required for social training, has been removed by Telecom Éireann. [28874/00]
I would not regard it as appropriate that I should intervene in this issue.
I understand that the phone in question was withdrawn by Eircom on the basis of commercial criteria which the company applies to all such installations.
Training in functional life skills is of course an important component in the education programme delivered by the school. However, I consider that the school authorities should have adequate alternative opportunities to provide the training in question in the context of activities undertaken outside the school environs. Such activities would be a normal part of the programme delivered to the children in question.
