Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 3

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Willie Penrose

Question:

424 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received correspondence from a group of parents of children with autism (details supplied) who are seeking expert service provision for their children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26612/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The correspondence to which the Deputy refers has just recently been received in my Department and is currently being considered.

I understand that the children in question are currently enrolled in a special class for pupils with autism. This class operates at a pupil teacher ratio of 6:1 and has the support of a special needs assistant. A second special needs assistant has also been appointed to assist with the particular needs of one of the pupils in question. My Department also recently sanctioned home tuition hours to assist another one of the pupils and a second application for such support is currently receiving consideration.

The provision of therapeutic support services for the children in question is the responsibility of 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 package of new measures to enhance the quality and range of special education services available to the children in question. These measures include the immediate introduction of a nationwide pre-school education service for children with autism; the exten sion 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 referred to by the Deputy, receive the support they require within the education system. I also assure the Deputy that the points raised in the correspondence to which he refers will be fully considered by my Department.