Every effort is made to ensure that children with special educational needs, including children with autistic spectrum disorders, receive an education appropriate to their needs. Decisions regarding the most appropriate model of response in each particular case are based on the professionally assessed needs of the individual child.
In the Carlow area, some children with autism are attending mainstream schools on a fully integrated basis, with the support of resource teaching and special needs assistant support, as appropriate. St. Lazarian's special school also caters for a number of children on the autistic spectrum. In addition, my Department has been actively investigating the development of additional educational services for children with autism in the Carlow area in consultation with existing education providers and this process is continuing. No funding has been allocated to any particular group in the Carlow area by my Department in the context of autism provision other than the normal resources made available to schools who are catering for pupils with autism.