Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 1

Written Answers. - Autism Services.

Jack Wall

Question:

226 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount of funding available under the national development plan for the education of children suffering from autism; the method or system in place for support groups, schools or parents seeking to draw down such funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6014/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The national development plan does not make specific provision in relation to education services for individual disability groups.

Education support services for children with autism, in common with services for all children, are funded through annual allocations to my Department which are based on models and levels of support agreed with the education partners.

In the case of children with special needs, including children with autism, special reduced pupil to teacher ratios apply. Children with special needs are also supported by the special needs assistant service on the basis of agreed levels of support which are based on the assessed needs of the individual child.

Depending on their assessed level of need, children with autism can attend dedicated classes in special schools or attached to ordinary schools or may attend mainstream schools on a fully integrated basis. The special units dedicated to chil dren with autism operate at a maximum pupil teacher ratio of 6:1 and each unit also has the support of two special needs assistants. Children attending such units attract a special increased rate of capitation funding and are entitled to avail of the special school transport service. At present, there are 98 such special units in place with a capacity to cater for up to 588 pupils. A further 48 pupils with autism are being catered for in three pilot projects which are using an applied behavioural model of response.

Children with autism who attend ordinary schools on a fully integrated basis are entitled to the support of the resource teacher and special needs assistant service. At present there are some 1,500 resource teachers and 3,000 special needs assistants in primary schools supporting children with special needs in integrated settings, including children with autism.

In October 2000 I established a special task force on autism to review current provision and make recommendations for the future development of services in this area. The report of the task force, which is lengthy and complex, was received in November 2001. Among the areas addressed in the report are the role of the parties to which the Deputy refers and how their interests can best be supported and developed.

The report of the task force is currently being considered by my Department.