Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Mar 2002

Vol. 551 No. 3

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Pat Carey

Ceist:

251 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals which exist for the transfer of responsibility of care and education of children and young people with severe to profound intellectual disability from the Department of Health and Children to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10476/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

There are no proposals at present for the transfer of sole responsibility of care and education of children and young people with severe to profound intellectual disability from the Department of Health and Children to my Department. My Department and the Department of Health and Children have dual responsibility for the provision of education and care needs for pupils with severe-profound general learning disability.

Children with severe-profound disabilities are entitled to provision in special dedicated schools or in special dedicated classes attached to schools. Currently there are five dedicated special schools for pupils with severe-profound disabilities. There are also 125 special classes allocated to address the educational needs of pupils with severe-profound general learning disability. Further such classes are being established in response to identified needs.