Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I thank the office of the Ceann Comhairle for taking this matter, the provision of alternative accommodation for a special needs class in County Leitrim.

Last year, parents of children attending a class for children with a mild learning disability in St. Patrick's National School, Drumshanbo, were alarmed at the proposal to close down the class. The inspector has said the class will be suppressed with effect from 31 August 2009. The board of management has not yet exhausted all viable options for the class to remain open. The children are to be placed in classes with people with more severe disabilities. The children who attend the class in St. Patrick's come from a wide geographical area, from Arigna, County Roscommon, Cleveragh, County Sligo, Aughacashel and Leitrim village. If the class closes down the only options are the Mercy in County Sligo or Killoe, County Longford. This is too far for parents and children to travel.

The Minister for Education and Science said the class would be put out of the Enterprise Centre, Drumshanbo, because of health and safety problems. Now, parents, students and teachers are given priority for funding to relocate to the Marian College, Mohill, which is now vacant. The VEC is willing to accommodate the class providing a section of the building is made safe. Funding is needed to adapt the building to the needs of the children and the parents and children have no desire to travel to schools in County Sligo or County Longford. Parents believe these children are entitled to be provided with an adequate classroom for education in County Leitrim. Teachers are in agreement with the relocation and this is a win-win situation for parents, teachers and most importantly for the pupils. I ask the Department to provide funding to rectify this unfair and unjust situation.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Feighan. I am taking this Adjournment Matter on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, Minister for Education and Science. The outreach classes referred to by Deputy Feighan are attached to St. Joseph's Special School, Ballytivnan, County Sligo. The children attending these outreach classes have a diagnosis of moderate to severe to profound general learning disability or multiple disabilities. The current staffing allocated to these outreach classes consists of two teaching posts and five special needs assistant posts to cater for the special educational needs of the 11 pupils attending the classes.

The Government is committed to ensuring that all children with special educational needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers, special needs assistants and the appropriate school curriculum. The Department's policy is to ensure the maximum possible integration of children with special educational needs into ordinary mainstream schools within the child's community where this is in the best interests of the child and those with whom he or she is to be educated. However, there may be circumstances where full integration is not in the best interests of some children. In these cases provision is made in special schools or special classes attached to mainstream schools.

Such special schools and special classes are dedicated to a particular disability group and each operates at a specially reduced pupil-teacher ratio. These special schools and special classes attract higher rates of capitation funding and are entitled to avail of the special school transport service and the school bus escort service.

The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, through the local special educational needs organisers, is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports. The NCSE operates within the Department's criteria in allocating such support. The responsibility also includes identifying appropriate educational placement for individual children with special educational needs.

Officials in the Department of Education and Science have been in contact with the NCSE regarding the matter raised by Deputy Feighan. The NCSE has informed the Department that the school has been liaising with the local special educational needs organiser regarding the possibility of establishing the special classes at an alternative location. The NCSE has advised that it is currently considering the matter and is continuing to liaise with the school authorities in this regard.

Priority will continue to be given to provision for children with special educational needs. The Government will build on the progress achieved in recent years which has seen a huge increase in resources for special needs. The NCSE will continue to support schools, parents, children and teachers. I thank Deputy Feighan for giving me the opportunity to clarify the position and to indicate that the local special educational needs organiser is endeavouring to resolve the issue.