Vol. 481 No. 2
162 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Education and Science the facilities and special arrangements, if any, which have been made available by his Department to deal with the education needs of autistic children; the number of autistic children registered in schools in this country; and the number who are being provided with specially designed educational facilities. [15881/97]
Children with autism have access to a range of educational support services. The precise nature of the support provided will depend on the severity of the condition in each individual case.
In some cases, children with mild features of autism are educated in ordinary schools with the support, where necessary, of remedial or resource teachers. Children wtih more serious needs have traditionally been catered for in a number of special schools including schools for children with mental handicap and schools for children with emotional behavioural disorders.
In the 1995-96 school year a pilot programme of special education services was established for children with autism. Under this programme, a number of special classes dedicated specifically to the needs of these children have been established. The programme involves: the allocation of extra teachers to specifically address the educational needs of children with autism, the delivery of specially tailored educational programmes to meet the need of these children; and the delivery of special in-service support to the teachers concerned.
These special classes are attached to schools located in Beechpark, Stillorgan, County Dublin and Cratloe, Ennis, County Clare. A further special class was established at St. Brigid's Special School, Dundalk, County Louth in the 1996-97 school year. Each of the special classes caters for a maximum of six children. A total of 46 children are currently catered for under the pilot programme.
My Department's inspectorate is now commencing a review of the operation of the pilot programme and will be consulting with the Irish Society of Autism as part of this process. The review, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year, will provide a basis for the development of future responses to the educational needs of children with autism.
My Department does not have details of the total number of autistic children currently participating in the education system.
