Vol. 571 No. 1
458 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if information will be provided relating to courses and school plans for teenagers with Down's syndrome after junior cert; and if the maximum advice, support and assistance can be provided on this issue. [19655/03]
Students with special needs, including those with Down's syndrome, who are pursuing second level courses beyond junior certificate level can be supported by the resource teacher and/or special needs assistants service. The precise nature and level of the support provided is based on the professionally assessed needs of the individual child.
All such students, in accordance with their abilities and needs, are entitled to participate in the full range of subject areas offered by the school including, where available, the leaving certificate applied programme, the leaving certificate vocational programme and the transition year programme. School plans should encompass arrangements to address the special educational needs of students with disabilities. The precise nature of the programmes followed by such students is determined having regard to the capacities of the individual students involved and the requirements of the students and their parents.
