Services for People with Disabilities.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 October 2006

Wednesday, 18 October 2006

Ceisteanna (142)

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

215 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children the position in relation to an association (details supplied) in County Wicklow, which has submitted an application to the Department of Education and Science and the Health Service Executive for full State recognition and appropriate funding for a centre of education for children in County Wicklow with autistic spectrum disorders; if this will be sanctioned as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33359/06]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O’Malley)

As the Deputy may be aware it is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science to provide for primary education. When the Department of Education sanctions classes for children with special needs, the Health Service Executive is the statutory body charged with providing the auxiliary services such as therapies to these classes.

The Deputy's specific question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.