Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)

I welcome the opportunity to speak again on this issue this evening and I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for selecting this topic.

The decision to suspend classes for children with mild general learning disability is seriously regressive. It is, again, hitting the most at risk children in the community and I am afraid that the mantra that the most vulnerable are to be protected is one that I am finding a bit difficult to take on board anymore. The decision on children with mild general learning disability is damaging to the morale of teachers who have worked so hard to help these children to be able to cope with the mainstream class and it is causing enormous worry to the parents of the children concerned.

I pose a few questions to the Minister. What is his plan for September next when a new intake of pupils will impact on the current status and the probability that the numbers of children who were in the mild general learning disability category will increase? In almost all of the schools with which I am in contact in the areas that I have mentioned in Dublin 8 and Dublin 10, the teachers are aware of their communities, know the children, know what their intake will be like and are confident that the numbers will increase. Will they regain a teacher, or a class, if the numbers increase or will they be left to struggle on and be even more disadvantaged than at present?

What is the position regarding the general allocation ratio? When will that be reviewed? It seems that the Department is prompt in reviewing the ratio when the numbers drop and is not quite so efficient when it comes to an increase in numbers.

Four schools, in particular, have asked that the possibility of clustering be considered to allow the retention of a combined special class for the pupils with mild general learning disability. St. Louise De Marillac junior and senior schools in Ballyfermot would be happy to consider combining classes, thus meeting the required numbers to justify a special class as specified by the Minister. Scoil Iosagáin and Scoil Mhuire-Sheosamh De La Salle in Ballyfermot make the same request. They, too, would be happy to form a combined class if it is approved.

I am anxious to establish the position on clustering of classes in schools for purposes of mild general learning disability. The Taoiseach indicated, at questions in the Dáil a few weeks ago, that this was a possibility. On 10 March last, however, in reply to my parliamentary question, it was not clear what the intentions were in relation to this possibility.

The schools I mentioned need clarity. Many other schools in Dublin 8 and Dublin 10 also need clarity on the prospects for September next and I can only emphasise again the negative consequences for the many children who will be seriously affected if the decision to cut these classes is upheld.

The issue is not just about classes for those with mild general learning disability. For many of the schools in the areas that I have identified the level of disadvantage is significant, the dropout rate is high, the reports have been published and the statistics speak for themselves. While it is true that improvements have been observed, these recent decisions will simply turn back the clock and the cycle of disadvantage and drop-out will continue.

In reply to my parliamentary question on 10 March last, the Minister stated:

I am open to listening to proposals from schools where they can demonstrate that it is educationally more beneficial for the pupils involved to be in a special class of their own rather than to be integrated with their peers and supported by the mainstream classroom teacher and the learning resource teacher.

The sentiment of that statement was encouraging because it reflects educational needs as a priority. The facts, unfortunately, belie the sentiment as it would appear that number crunching and financial considerations are the driving force in the recent decisions.

The schools I mentioned are open to clustering of classes. They are making a serious effort to put together a package that would be acceptable and helpful to them, and I would ask the Minister to take that on board.

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