asked the Minister for Education the steps being taken to meet the required educational and training needs of autistic children.
59.
Written Answers. - Autistic Children.
58.
asked the Minister for Education if he will take steps to ensure that autistic children can continue in education up to the age of 18 years.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 59 together.
Children are diagnosed as autistic by health board psychiatric services and their care and treatment are generally provided in a medical setting. They receive their education in common with other handicapped children in special schools which are recognised as national schools. Under the Rules for National Schools handicapped children may continue in attendance until the end of the school year in which they have reached their eighteenth birthday. Most of the special schools provide appropriate programmes for pupils up to that age.
My Department are prepared to sanction appropriate programmes for autistic children up to the age of 18 years. Decisions in regard to the age at which children leave school are, however, made by the boards of management of the school concerned.
The provision of training services for autistic young persons when they leave school is a responsibility for the health authorities.