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other conditions. This became the current Fleming Fulton School,
which when it first opened enrolled children from 5 yrs to school
leaving age and provided residential accommodation for pupils from
outside Belfast. In 1971 NICOD handed over responsibility for its
schools to the Department of Education.
The Health Services (NI) Act 1948 had introduced a duty on the
Ministry of Health with regard to the ascertainment and treatment of
mental deficiency and the care, supervision, training and occupation
of mental defectives. The Mental Health Act (NI) 1948 gave the
Northern Ireland Hospitals Authority responsibility for all mental
health services, including services for 'persons requiring special care' -
a more acceptable term for children and adults whom legislation had
formerly described as 'mental defectives', 'imbeciles' etc.
Under the Mental Health Act (NI) 1961, medical practitioners or
health authorities were required to refer to the education authorities
any child between the age of 2 years and under the compulsory
school leaving age who was felt to be in need of special care. The
Education and Library Board in turn was to notify the health
authority if the child was found to be 'uneducable'. Parents could be
compelled to send children to training centres where it appeared this
was necessary. A number of special care schools and training centres
were established which, after the restructuring of health and welfare
services in 1972 became the responsibility of the newly created
Health and Social Services Boards.
From the implementation of the 1947 Education (NI) Act to 1970
several amendments and miscellaneous provisions followed and the
1947 legislation was repealed in 1972 by the Education and Libraries
(NI) Act which introduced significant administrative changes. The
basis of educational development in Northern Ireland until the mid
1970s effectively was the 1947 Act. (Evason et al, 1976). A number of
disabled children from Northern Ireland were sent to special schools
in the South of Ireland and in England. In some cases, welfare
authorities paid for young disabled school leavers to attend
rehabilitation courses in England.
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