Vol. 549 No. 3
418 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Education and Science the educational facilities available in County Cork for children who are autistic; his plans to increase such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6519/02]
Pupils with autism are generally catered for in special schools or in special classes attached to ordinary schools. At present in Cork, there are 12 special classes catering for children with autism. Eight of the classes are located in special schools and four are attached to mainstream primary schools.
Each class caters for a maximum of six pupils and has the support of a minimum of one teacher and two special needs assistants. Pupils attending such classes also attract special increased rates of capitation funding and are entitled to avail of the special school transport service and the escort service. Further such classes are being established in response to identified needs.
In some cases, children with autism can be supported in mainstream primary schools with the support of the resource teacher and-or special needs assistant service. There are currently in excess of 210 resource teachers and 390 special needs assistant posts in place in Cork in primary schools.
My Department also supports a pilot project in Cork that caters for 30 children with autism. This project, which delivers an applied behaviour analysis model of response, was established in 1999 and is operating on a five year pilot basis.
The report of the Task Force on Autism, which is currently being considered in my Department, will make an important contribution to the future development of services for children with autistic spectrum disorders.
