Dáil Éireann - Volume 579 - 04 February, 2004

Adjournment Debate. - Special Educational Needs.

Dr. Upton Dr. Upton

  Dr. Upton: I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for the opportunity of raising this matter on the Adjournment. I am, however, disappointed that the Minister for Education and Science is not here to respond. It is an important issue and a personal issue for the family involved. The case concerns a young boy whose family are seeking financial support for him to attend a special grammar school in England. The boy is profoundly deaf. He is academically excellent. The Leiter intellectual performance scale has indicated his non-verbal intellectual functioning to be within the superior range. His previous school reports stated that he was not being challenged intellectually in the group system that was operating in his former school. It was considered by his former class teacher that he was not fulfilling his educational potential because of the existing system in the school. Neither was the necessary educational support made available for him to attend a hearing mainstream school. His parents faced the prospect of allowing him to remain in his former school, although all the indicators from his class teacher were that he would not reach his potential.

At great personal cost, his parents transferred him to the Mary Hare grammar school in England, where he has consistent A or B grades in all his subjects. His parents have no criticism of the individual teachers in his former school. It is simply the case that the school does not meet the requirements of their son. In a group of mixed ability, some members of which had learning difficulties, he was frustrated and not achieving his potential. If he were to be placed in a mainstream school in Ireland he would need two sign language interpreters. The cost of providing interpreters would be equivalent to the fee being paid in the Mary Hare school so, from the point of view of the Department of Education and Science, the cost would be broadly the same.

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The family is suffering severe financial strain. They are concerned about meeting the cost of keeping their son in school in England. This boy deserves the chance of achieving his intellectual potential. It is unacceptable that his parents must suffer severe financial strain to provide him with an appropriate education, to which he is entitled. I ask the Minister to consider favourably the request to assist with funding for this boy so that he can remain in the school. There, he is intellectually challenged and his talents are recognised. He is happy and has made friends. It is not ideal that any family should be obliged to send their 13 year old son to school in England, away from his friends and family, but they have been forced to make financial and personal sac[598] rifices to give their son an opportunity to achieve his potential.

On the basis of equality, this boy is entitled to be given the best available opportunity, which is not available to him in Ireland. His parents, with the advice of his former class teacher, have succeeded in obtaining a place for him in an appropriate school that meets his educational requirements. I ask the Minister to look favourably on the request to fund this boy's education so that he may have the same opportunities as his peers. The cost of keeping him in school is in the order of 12,000 sterling per term. This is an unbearable financial burden on the family. I ask the Minister to consider this request.

Mr. M. Ahern Mr. M. Ahern

  Mr. M. Ahern:The Minister for Education and Science sends his apologies for not being able to be here this evening. The issue raised by the Deputy provides a welcome opportunity for me to inform the House of the range of assistance provided by the Department of Education and Science for children with special educational needs, including those with a hearing impairment. Up to October 1998, the Department's capacity to respond to individual children with special needs was limited. This changed with a Government decision in October 1998 whereby children assessed as having special educational needs in primary schools have an automatic entitlement to a response to their needs. Since this automatic entitlement to support was introduced, the number of resource teachers in the primary system has increased from approximately 100 to more than 2,500 and the number of special needs assistants has grown from approximately 300 to almost 5,500 full-time and part-time posts.

The nature and level of the educational response is based on the professionally assessed needs of each child. While the Department's policy is to ensure the maximum possible integration of pupils with special needs into ordinary mainstream schools, those who have been assessed as having special educational needs have access to a range of special support services. The services range from special schools dedicated to particular disability groups, through special classes and units attached to ordinary schools, to placement on an integrated basis in ordinary schools, with special back-up supports. The response will normally take the form of resource teacher or special needs assistant support, or both, depending on the level of need involved.

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I understand that the student in question was enrolled in St. Joseph's special school for hearing-impaired boys in Cabra. St. Joseph's caters for pupils with hearing impairment, both at primary and post-primary level. The pupil teacher ratio applicable to the school is 7:1 which is as recommended by the special education review committee. The actual pupil teacher ratio in the school is more favourable than this figure. I [599] understand that the parents of the student withdrew him from the school.

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I also understand an application was made last year to the Department to fund an educational placement abroad for the student in question. This issue was investigated by the Department's inspectorate and following on from this investigation, a letter issued to the students parents advising that the placement in Cabra was considered appropriate and that the Department would not be making funding available for the person's attendance at an education facility in the United Kingdom.

More recently, the parents of the student in question appealed the Department of Education and Science's decision and the additional information they provided is being considered. I assure the Deputy that the parents will be advised of the outcome of this review in the near future.

Dáil Éireann 579 Adjournment Debate. Special Educational Needs.

General Debate

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