Vol. 554 No. 5
624 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no learning support is being made available to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who has been identified as urgently requiring learning support; the action his Department intends to take to remedy this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16337/02]
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, arising from a review of the needs of the child in question, an allocation of resource teacher support has recently been made available to this child.
625 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason remedial support was discontinued from January 2002 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who was deemed by an educational psychologist to require one-to-one resource help; the steps he will take to ensure that learning support is restored to this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16338/02]
My Department's inspectorate is currently investigating the educational needs of the pupil referred to by the Deputy. It may be that the needs of the child are such as to require an allocation of dedicated resource teacher support rather than a learning support (remedial) teacher service.
As soon as the inspectorate has reported, my Department will be in further contact with the school.
626 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Education and Science the facilities which are at present available for children with speech and language disorders in the Limerick, Clare and Tipperary region; the improvements his Department plans to make; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16391/02]
Special classes for children with specific speech and language disorders are established where a need is identified on the basis of up-to- date psychological and speech therapy reports in respect of the children in question.
At present, there are four such special classes in the Limerick area, two in the Clare area and two in the Tipperary area. Each special class operates at a maximum pupil teacher ratio of 7:1.
My Department also provides resource teaching support for children with specific speech and language disorders who are attending mainstream schools on a fully integrated basis.
A prerequisite to the establishment of special classes for children with specific speech and language disorders is the availability of an appropriate speech and language therapy service. Responsibility for the provision of such services rests with the relevant health authority. My Department liaises with the health authorities in the establishment of such classes.
Question No. 627 answered with Question No. 594.
Question No. 628 answered with Question No. 558.
