Parents of visually impaired children say they are angry at plans by an order of nuns to close the State's only school for blind girls. They say the Sisters of Charity have informed them unofficially that St Mary's School for the Blind, on Merrion Road, Dublin, is to shut.
The order has, however, denied that any decision has been taken to close it. A spokeswoman insisted it was due to reopen in September for the 1997-1998 school year.
She admitted, however, that discussions have taken place with the Department of Education over future plans to cater for both primary and secondary pupils at St Mary's.
Mrs Miriam Bourke, whose daughter Karen (14) attends the school, told The Irish Times that an "entire bank of skill and knowledge for dealing with these children will be lost" if the closure goes ahead.
"Parents are so upset. They also feel they have invested a lot of time and co-operation in the school, but the nuns seem determined to sell the property. We know that if you arrive with a blind child they will give you reasons why they cannot accommodate you. We just want a school where our children can go."
She said she had recently been told by the school principal, Sister Claire, of the closure. If the nuns were determined to go ahead, she said, the parents wanted the Department of Education to make proper alternative arrangements to cater for the children's education.
They had been in contact with the Department for some time because it seemed obvious the nuns had plans to close the school.
"But because the nuns have not said it officially the Department is saying that they are not aware the school is closing."
When Karen began school there were over 100 students in the primary and secondary schools. Now there are approximately 40, four of whom are boarders. In the secondary school, which has 27 pupils, there is one class of six students due to sit the Leaving Certificate and one class of five due to sit the Junior Certificate in 1999.
Her daughter is totally blind and a slow learner. "It would just not be possible for Karen to be taught in a mainstream school."
She understood there were plans for the primary school to be amalgamated with St Joseph's primary school for visually impaired boys in Drumcondra.
The parents, Mrs Bourke said, would have no difficulty with this, except that it was not clear where the girls would move to from there.
A spokeswoman for the nuns, however, discounted reports that the school was about to close. She added: "The school board has been negotiating with the Department of Education and we hope some decision will be taken during the school year."
With numbers declining at St Mary's the nuns with the Rosminian order, which runs St Joseph's, had agreed to consider one centre of excellence for both boys and girls in tandem with stronger emphasis on integrating visually-impaired people into standard schooling.
This was likely to be based at St Joseph's as it was a larger facility where a new development was planned for children. St Mary's at the same time was developing a large facility for adults. All children with special needs were due to be catered for in the centre of excellence.
In May 1995 both orders issued a joint statement saying the changes would be made "provided agreement can be reached with all parties".
The Sisters of Charity said they were motivated by rapid advances in technology, changes in "best practice" as articulated in a 1993 review of special education and the views in a Government White Paper on education.
The option is believed to have been rejected by parents with children at St Mary's.
While a move to close was not pursued the nuns were in contact with the Department on the facility's future.
The Department's special education section wrote in April to the chairman of the board saying the Department was awaiting additional information from the school's inspector on the degree of impairment of the girls of post-primary age "in addition to the issue of classroom and ancillary accommodation needs".
On receipt of this, it was proposed to have discussions with the trustees and parents on "future provision for the girls".
It is understood that a copy of this letter was sent to the St Mary's parents.
Asked to comment on the latest position, a Department spokesman said: "We are not aware of any formal decision by the board of management regarding the future of the school."