Vol. 533 No. 3
360 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the consideration his Department has given to providing the resources necessary to meet the educational needs and rights of people with disabilities; if his Department has assessed the level of unmet need with regard to the education of people with disabilities; the cost thereof; if so, the findings thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9090/01]
Arising from a Government decision of October 1998, all children with special needs within the primary system are now entitled to an automatic response to their needs. As a result of this development, the number of resource teachers supporting special needs children in primary schools has been increased from 104 to more than 750. The number of special needs assistants supporting special needs children has been increased from less than 300 to more than 1,700 over the same period. Additional resource teachers and special needs assistants are being allocated by my Department as needs are identified.
Children with special needs of second level age are generally catered for in ordinary second level schools with the support of the resource teacher and special needs assistant services. There are 273 resource teachers and 135 special needs assistants in second level schools at present.
Where more serious disabilities are involved, the children are catered for in a range of special schools and special classes dedicated to particular disabilities. All such facilities operate at reduced pupil-teacher ratios and attract special needs assistant support in line with the recommendations of the special education review committee. The special schools generally cater for pupils with special needs from the age of four up to the end of the school year during which they reach their 18th birthday. Young persons leaving the special school system have access to a range of vocational training centres or other special facilities where my Department funds tuition services.
In September 1999, my Department extended the remedial teaching service to every first and second-level school in the country with a pupilteacher ratio of 10:1 or above. Schools with lower ratios can also have access to this service where they can demonstrate a need for such a service.
In addition, my Department makes funding available for the purchase of computers and other equipment for children with special needs. This year, I have increased the level of funding in this area from £987,000 to £2,730,000.
The national educational psychological service is currently available to all second level schools and will be developed to provide nation-wide coverage to all primary schools by the end of 2004.
While this Government has presided over an unprecedented level of improvement in special education services, I am fully aware that much more work remains to be done before we can be satisfied that all children with special needs are receiving the support they require when and where they require it.
A key development in this regard is the recent report of the planning group established in my Department to make recommendations on the arrangements that should be put in place to ensure the most effective provision of a high quality co-ordinated service at all stages of education for students with disabilities.
The recommendations brought forward by the planning group provide a valuable blueprint for the development of an effective special education service. It is my intention to seek Government approval to proceed with these measures at the earliest possible date.
