Vol. 571 No. 1
452 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the financial support his Department has made available for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 14 who commences education at the Mary Hare school for the Deaf, Newbury, England, in September 2003. [19897/03]
The special education section of my Department has not received an application for financial support in respect of the person referred to by the Deputy. I will arrange to have the matter investigated by my inspectorate at the earliest opportunity.
453 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science the additional resources and funding being made available to St. Joseph's School for the Visually Impaired following the recent Equality Authority hearing whereby St. Joseph's will now be the sole provider of education and services for visually impaired boys and girls here (details supplied). [21056/03]
On 28 August 2003, following a successful appeal under the Education Act, 1998, by the parents of a girl refused a place in the school, the board of management of St. Joseph's decided that the school should become co-educational with immediate effect. In order to facilitate this development, the school has applied to my Department for certain additional resources and this application is currently under consideration. This request is under consideration in my Department at present and a response will issue to the school authorities at the earliest possible date.
454 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans for the future provision of schooling services, including funding and accommodation, in the greater Dublin area, in view of the closure of the school of the visually impaired on Merrion Road, Dublin 4. [19588/03]
479 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the desirability of a national centre for the visually impaired; the consideration which has been given to such a project; the reason he has rejected plans for such a centre; and the measures he proposes to take to cater to the needs of those visually impaired who wish to access education. [19809/03]
481 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the provisions for an additional school for the blind or visually impaired which are being put in place for girls who are visually impaired or blind, to alleviate the difficulties that parents of children are encountering in trying to source school places in Dublin in preference to having their children travel to Northern Ireland for education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19894/03]
680 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science the additional resources and funding being made available to St. Joseph's School for the Visually Impaired following the recent Equality Authority hearing whereby St. Joseph's will now be the sole provider of education and services for visually impaired boys and girls here (details supplied). [21050/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 454, 479, 481 and 680 together.
Arising from the report of a planning group which was established to consider proposals for the development of a national centre for the visually impaired, my Department engaged a project team to consider an overall development strategy for the implementation of the planning group's report. The report of the project team was presented to my Department towards the end of 2002.
Having given careful consideration to the matter, I decided in April 2003 that the national centre as proposed should not proceed, having regard to the low and declining pupil numbers in the schools for the visually impaired and the development costs, estimated to be in excess of €30 million. However, my Department is willing to explore with the school authorities concerned how aspects of the proposed centre could be developed in the context of available resources. The patron/trustees of both St. Joseph's Special School and Pobalscoil Rosmini in Drumcondra, which make educational provision for the visually impaired, have been advised accordingly.
