Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this important issue for three children who live in my constituency. I draw to the attention of the Minister of State my serious concerns about the treatment of these three young children, aged between four and six years, by both the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Health and Children. These children have been attending the speech and language therapy department in Swords for the past two years and during that time they have made progress. Unfortunately, however, they have been diagnosed with a significant speech and language disorder and require further assistance.

Their parents were elated when informed by the speech and language therapy section of the Health Service Executive that the special education and speech therapy needs of their children could be catered for in St. Marnock's national school in Portmarnock. The special needs language class provided in St. Marnock's is limited to seven children who have significant speech or language difficulties. This class is held in a mainstream primary school where the children follow the national curriculum. The pupils are also seen by a speech and language therapist on an intensive daily basis. They remain in this class for one to two years and, following this, return to the local primary school.

This language class caters for what is known in health board terms as "area 8", which has a population of 250,000 people. From this population, the Health Service Executive identified five children who require a place in the school. The parents of these five children were dismayed when notified last weekend that only two of the five children were offered places in St. Marnock's and one of the seven places on offer went to a referral from a private therapist.

This decision has left three children without a service which was deemed necessary by the Government's own Department to meet their needs and prepare them for the future. Clinical psychologists have confirmed that without this specialist input, they may become quickly frustrated at school and, as a result, display behaviour management difficulties. This behaviour may have long-term implications resulting in serious psychological problems at a later stage. This can be avoided if the necessary resources are put in place now. The window of opportunity to learn language and address this problem is between four and six years of age. Time is rapidly running out for these children. They are desperately disappointed at not being offered places in St. Marnock's and are in despair, having been informed that there is no alternative service available to them.

It would be an indictment of our health and education systems if the Minister of State is unable to provide the necessary resources in September 2005 for three children with special needs out of a population of 250,000. Schools will close shortly for the summer break and positive decisions are urgently required.

I have been informed that earlier today the principal of St. Marnock's national school met the parents and told them that a classroom is available in the school for September. It is now up to the Minister for Education and Science to ensure the additional resources, including an additional teacher and speech therapist, are made available. Nothing less will be acceptable to me or the parents of the children, who are understandably very angry at how their children have been treated.

In the past we have had positive responses from the Minister of State on various issues. This goes to the heart and soul of three children who are looking for the education and health systems that will prepare them for their journey in life. It is up to the Government in these good economic times to provide them for the children. Anything else is unacceptable.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to have been given the opportunity to clarify the position of the Department of Education and Science on the matter referred to by the Deputy.

St. Marnock's national school in Portmarnock currently has the services of one principal, nine mainstream teachers, one learning support teacher, one resource teacher and one special class teacher. The enrolment of the school stands at 262. Special classes for children with specific speech and language disorders are established where a need has been identified and supported by up-to-date psychological and speech therapy reports in respect of the children in question. Each class caters for a maximum of seven children and each class requires the services of a speech therapist. The speech therapy service is provided by the Health Service Executive. The school currently has a special class for speech and language disorder. There will be seven pupils enrolled in the class in September 2005 and, therefore, there is no available spare capacity in this class for additional pupils.

I can confirm that correspondence has been received in the Department of Education and Science from the parents of three children with speech and language disorders requesting that an additional class for specific speech and language disorder be established.

The Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education, which became operational on 1 January 2005, processes applications for special educational needs supports, including requests for the establishment of special classes. The council has a key role in the development and delivery of services for persons with special educational needs, including children with speech and language disorders. The council has a local area presence through a network of 71 special educational needs organisers.

I understand from the Department of Education and Science that the council has not received any application for the establishment of an additional class for speech and language disorder from St. Marnock's national school to date. However, following from the correspondence received from parents, the Department will make contact with the school with a view to ensuring that these children's needs can be met in St. Marnock's, if possible, or in other suitable premises.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy and I thank him again for the opportunity to give an update on the current position in regard to the need for a special needs class at St. Marnock's national school. The school had not sent the application to the proper section. I accept it is a new process that only came into place this year.

Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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The school was not aware of it.

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Those people who are part of the system should have been aware of it. I hope matters will be put right.