Written answers

Tuesday, 10 October 2006

Department of Education and Science

Voluntary Sector Funding

9:00 pm

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 552: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide funding to Down Syndrome Ireland in line with other similar organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32144/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has no plans to provide dedicated funding to the Down Syndrome Ireland organisation. My Department does however provide funding for a range of initiatives within the school system to support pupils with Down Syndrome. The precise level of support is determined by the special educational needs of the particular child.

Children with Down Syndrome are entitled to additional provision in primary school, either under the terms of the general allocation system of teaching supports if the assessment places the child in the high incidence disability category or through an allocation of additional resources if the child is assessed as being within the low-incidence category of special need, as defined by my Department's circular SP ED 02/05.

My Department's policy is to ensure the maximum possible integration of children with special educational needs into ordinary mainstream schools. The precise model of provision made available will depend on the assessed needs of the pupils involved. Some pupils are capable of attending ordinary classes on an integrated basis with additional teacher and/or special needs assistant support. In other cases, the level of special need involved can be such as to warrant placement in a special school or a special class attached to an ordinary school. A range of such facilities is provided to cater for the variety of levels of need that can arise. Each special school and special class operates at a reduced pupil teacher ratio. The ratios in question can vary from 11:1 in the case of children with a mild general learning disability to 6:1 where more severe disabilities are involved. The pupil teacher ratios applicable in all cases are in line with those recommended by the Special Education Review Committee.

Children attending all such facilities also attract special rates of capitation funding and have access to special funding for the purchase of specialised equipment where required.

I am satisfied that the mechanisms are in place to provide appropriate resources for children with special needs in our schools, including those with Down Syndrome.

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