Jack Wall
Question:389 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans he has to investigate and provide a long-term education plan for autistic children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10624/00]
Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.
Jack Wall
Question:408 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will investigate and provide a long-term education plan for autistic children in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children support groups such as Parts and outreach centres such as Beechpark; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10589/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 408 together.
In November 1998 my Department announced its formal recognition of the distinct educational needs of children with autism. Arising from this development, special dedicated provision is now made available for such children at a pupil-teacher ratio of 6:1. Each special class also has the support of a child care assistant. To date, more than 50 special classes have been established to provide dedicated educational support for children with autism and my Department is currently pursuing the establishment of additional special classes in a number of locations throughout the country.
In some cases, parents of children with special needs, including autism, may wish their children to attend school on a fully integrated basis. Arising from a Government decision of October 1998 all such children within the primary system now have an entitlement to an automatic response to their needs. The response may take the form of extra teacher or extra child care support or both, depending on the needs of the individual child. Already, as a result of this decision, the number of resource teachers in the primary system has increased from 104 to 329 and the number of child care assistants has grown from 295 to 937.
In the particular case of children with autism, there is also a need for additional support services such as speech and language therapy and occupational therapy. These services are provided on an outreach basis through the relevant health authorities, including through the Beechpark facility to which the Deputy refers. My Department works in close co-operation with the health authorities in arranging to have these services put in place.
I am satisfied that the range of special support services made available by my Department offers an adequate response to the needs of children with autism.