Vol. 505 No. 6
273 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to the provision of a classroom assistant for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on this situation in view of the serious needs of the student and the impact that the absence of this resource is having on her education. [14492/99]
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has sanctioned a special needs assistant to enable the school authorities to cater for the special educational needs of the child in question.
274 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will allocate the necessary approval for The O'Neill Centre, Kilkenny, which is endeavouring to implement the teacher programme for autistic children; if he will support the necessity for in-service training for the teachers; the type and duration of training considered necessary; if he will further consider the presence of a special needs assistant within classes for autistic children as vital to their edu cational development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14506/99]
I understand that the facility to which the Deputy refers is a pre-school centre for children with special needs which is funded by the South-Eastern Health Board. My Department has no record of any application for support from the centre in question.
I have asked my officials to contact the Department of Health and Children in relation to the issues raised by the Deputy.
