Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 462: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which speech and language requirements have been assessed or determined in respect of each national school in Meath West; the extent to which such requirements are being met; her plans to meet such requirements in the near future; the extent to which her proposals meet the needs of children or as set out by the school authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37966/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not have a direct function in assessing speech and language requirements in national schools. The provision of speech therapy services is a matter for the Health Service Executive, HSE, and funding is provided to the HSE for such purposes. The Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education, which became operational on 1 January 2005, now processes applications for special educational needs supports, including requests for supports for pupils with speech and language requirements. 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, SENOs.

Pupils may be supported in an integrated setting in a mainstream school with resource teaching hours. A number of special classes for children with specific speech and language disorders have also been established. Such classes are established where a need has been identified and supported by up-to-date psychological and speech therapy reports. 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 relevant health service executive. There are currently in excess of 60 speech and language classes in primary schools nationally. Three of these classes are based in County Meath including two classes in Trim and one in Dunboyne.

I will continue to prioritise the issue of special needs education and, in co-operation with the National Council for Special Education ensure that all children with special needs are adequately resourced to enable them to meet their full potential.