Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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638. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the person or body which ran a school (details supplied); the body which funded it; the way in which referrals were made; the organisation that inspected and oversaw it; and the courses that were taught in the school. [28926/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The school to which the Deputy refers was under the management of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul until it closed on the 31st August 1987. The school was established as a recognised special school in accordance with Rule 27 of the 1965 Rules for National Schools and financial assistance was provided by my Department through capitation grants and payment of teachers. 

The school operated as a Residential and Day Special School for girls with special educational needs.  Records held by my Department from 1985 indicate that the school catered for "mildly mentally handicapped girls". 

In accordance with the Rules for National Schools, recognised schools were inspected by my Department’s inspectorate who were required, under the Rules for National Schools, to furnish at least once in every two years a School Report on the work of every school in their district.  Circular 11/76 changed the requirement of the Inspector to furnish a School Report at least once in every four years. However, Inspectors were required to undertake frequent incidental visits to the schools in their district in order to collaborate in the work of the teachers and to help young teachers and others who, in the inspector’ opinion, were in need of assistance and advice.

Rule 70 of the 1965 Rules for National Schools set out the programme of secular instruction which listed Irish, English, Mathematics, History, Geography, Needlework (Girls) and Music as obligatory subjects.  The publication of a new curriculum in 1971, Curaclam na Bunscoile, encouraged the integration of subjects, both religious and ‘secular’ subjects.

Since 2005, the school is covered under the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002.

School management may have retained records relevant to the Deputy’s query.  As the school was under the management of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, persons seeking information in relation to the school are advised to contact the Data Controller of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Seton House, Northbrook Rd, Dublin 6, Telephone 01 6687300, who may be in a position to assist with enquiries.