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Special Educational Needs.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2004

Tuesday, 14 December 2004

Questions (348, 349, 350)

Michael Ring

Question:

370 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science when the application for an upgrade of the special needs assistant post from a part-time position to a full-time position for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved. [33387/04]

View answer

Written answers

The application for the pupil in question is being processed and a decision will be conveyed to the school in the coming days.

Michael Lowry

Question:

371 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps that have been taken to cater for autistic children in north Tipperary, the funds or other resources that will be provided for these children and their families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33412/04]

View answer

Every effort is made to ensure that children with special educational needs, SEN, 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.

Children who have been assessed as having SEN, including autism, have access to a range of special support services. The services range from special schools dedicated to particular disability groups, through special classes or units attached to ordinary schools, to placement on an integrated basis in ordinary schools, with special back-up supports.

There are four special classes catering for children with autism for the area referred to by the Deputy. Each class caters for a maximum of six pupils and has a staffing of one teacher and at least two special needs assistants. Additional special needs assistant support is provided if deemed necessary. These classes also receive increased rates of capitation funding.

My Department's policy is to ensure the maximum possible integration of children with SEN into ordinary mainstream schools. Many children with such needs, including autism, are capable of attending mainstream schools on a fully integrated basis with the support, where necessary, of special resource teachers and-or special needs assistants.

Children with autism attending special classes attached to ordinary schools may, where appropriate, be integrated into ordinary classes for periods of the school day and, in that way, benefit from being able to socialise with their non-disabled peers. A total of 134 special classes for autism are in place in the primary system at present. Further special classes for autism may be established nationwide, as appropriate. While children are awaiting a suitable educational placement, my Department may sanction home tuition as an interim measure, if appropriate.

The following dedicated resources are now deployed to support children with SEN, including those with autism, in the primary system. More than 2,600 resource teachers are in place, which is up from 104 in 1998. More than 1,500 learning support teachers are in place, which is up from 1,302 in 1998. More than 1,000 teachers are employed in special schools. More than 600 teachers are employed in special classes. More than 5,000 special needs assistants are employed, which is up from 300 in 1998. More than €30 million has been spent on school transport for special needs pupils. More than €3 million has been expended on specialised equipment and materials, which is up from €800,000 in 1998.

To appreciate the scale of improvement in the provision of resources to primary schools for special needs, it is worth reflecting on the fact that, at approximately 10,700, the number of adults providing services to children with SEN in primary schools today equates to more than half of the 21,100 primary teaching force in 1998.

My Department is continuing to develop the network of special educational provision for children with autism. The extent of progress can be measured from the fact that, since 1998, when autism was first recognised as a distinct special educational need, the number of dedicated facilities that have been developed is as follows: eight pre-school classes for children with autism, 134 special classes for children with autism attached to special schools and mainstream schools, five special classes for children with Asperger's syndrome, eight autism facilities, some of which are providing an applied behavioural analysis model, ABA, of response to children with autism.

Another major landmark in the development of autism specific services was the joint launch last month by my predecessor and the Minister with responsibility for education in Northern Ireland of the Middletown Centre for Autism. This marked the successful completion of the purchase of the former St. Joseph's Adolescent Centre, Middletown, on behalf of the Department of Education in the North and the Department of Education and Science in the South. Both Departments plan to refurbish the property to meet the needs of a centre of excellence for children and young people with autism throughout the island of Ireland. The centre will be dedicated to improving and enriching the educational opportunities of children and young people with autistic spectrum disorders. The centre will provide four key services: a learning support service on a residential basis, an educational assessment service, a training and advisory service, and an autism research and information service.

The steps taken in recent years and those in hand represent significant progress in the development of services for children with autism. However, I fully recognise that further progress is required and my Department, in consultation with parents and existing service providers, will seek to ensure that the recent rate of development is maintained.

Michael Lowry

Question:

372 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on the plight of parents in Thurles (details supplied); if she will take action to secure a location for the unit mentioned in the Thurles area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33413/04]

View answer

I have made arrangements for my officials to contact the family referred to by the Deputy concerning the special educational needs of the person in question.

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