Vol. 526 No. 3
400 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide the funding and support to the proposal jointly submitted to his Department by two organisations (details supplied) in County Galway for autistic specific services. [26322/00]
I am aware of the proposal referred to by the Deputy, which relates to the development of education and therapeutic support services for a group of 14 children with autism in the Galway area.
A meeting was held recently between representatives of my Department and the service providers in the Galway area in relation to this matter.
My Department's inspectorate is currently investigating the educational needs of the pupils in question and the level of support required.
Under current arrangements, children with autism are catered for in special dedicated classes in special schools or attached to ordinary primary schools. Each special class operates at a pupil teacher ratio of 6:1 and each class has the support of a special needs assistant. The necessary therapeutic services are provided by the relevant health authority.
I am committed to ensuring that all children with autism have access to the support services they require within the education system. In keeping with this commitment, I recently announced a range of new measures to enhance the quality and range of special education services available for children with autism. These measures include the immediate introduction of a nationwide pre-school education service for all children with autism, the extension of the school year through the month of July in the case of all special facilities catering for children with autism and a doubling of the level of special needs assistant cover provided to each special class catering for children with autism.
I am also appointing an internationally recognised expert in the field of autism to advise my Department on the development of services in this area and to liaise with the work of the special task force on autism which I recently established and which has been requested to report to me within three months. I am also appointing a clinical psychologist to advise on the needs of individual children with autism.
I am confident that the measures which I have now introduced, coupled with any further developments which prove necessary arising from the task force's report, will ensure that all children with autism, including those in the area referred to by the Deputy, receive the support they require within the education system. In the meantime, my Department's inspectorate will continue its efforts to ensure that suitable provision is put in place for the children to whom the Deputy refers.
