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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

698 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps he has taken to provide a health centred service for the profoundly disabled children at St. Vincent's Navan Road Day Care Centre, Dublin 7. [16921/02]

Pat Carey

Ceist:

724 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the concern of parents of children at a centre (details supplied) in Dublin 7; if he has met with representatives of the parents' association and management; the discussions which have taken place to resolve the six week long dispute at the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17029/02]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 698 and 724 together.

Adequate resources have been made available to ensure the delivery to the children of the required level of education and health care inputs. Responsibility for ensuring that the various inputs are delivered in a co-ordinated manner rests with the local management authorities. The guiding principle informing such arrangements must be that the needs of the children are paramount and that they require and are entitled to a multi-disciplinary response involving educational and health care. In this regard, the education and health professionals assigned to work with the children need to make appropriate arrangements to meet the specific needs of each child at the centre.

I am fully aware of the issue to which the Deputies refer and I am most anxious that this matter be resolved as speedily as possible. I have met with the parents involved and am aware of their concerns in relation to the matter.

The issues involved have also been subject of high level discussions between my Department and the Department of Health and Children. Arising from these discussions a senior member of my Department's inspectorate and a representative of the Department of Health and Children have been appointed to visit the centre to review the situation and assist local management in resolving the current difficulty. These officials have already met with the parents of the children and are in ongoing discussions with the management authorities at the centre.

I am hopeful that local management with the assistance of the officials referred to will secure an early resolution of the current difficulties.

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