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Special Educational Needs.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2004

Wednesday, 15 December 2004

Questions (273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281)

David Stanton

Question:

287 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if, with regard to ABA facilities she has received reports by the inspectorate on autism specific provisions; if the findings of said reports will be made available to the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33870/04]

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Written answers

The future position of the ABA facilities beyond the school year 2004-05 will be considered within the context of the review of autism-specific provision which is currently being undertaken by my Department's inspectorate. The question of appropriate action will be considered when this review has been completed. No decision has been taken at this stage regarding the publication of the outcome of the review.

David Stanton

Question:

288 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has asked the relevant persons whether restructuring has taken place within the CABAS facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33871/04]

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As I advised the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 482 on 17 November 2004, I am not aware of any restructuring of the CABAS facilities. If the Deputy has any further information in that regard and makes the information available to me, I will have the matter investigated.

David Stanton

Question:

289 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 485 of 17 November 2004, if it is her understanding that staff representatives on boards of management of these CABAS facilities should be representative of teachers within these facilities and not part of supervisory or management grades; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33872/04]

View answer

Further to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 485 of 17 November 2004, my Department does not currently prescribe the composition of the staffing representation on the board of management of CABAS facilities.

David Stanton

Question:

290 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if her officials have asked the Irish Autism Alliance for proposals or a blue print for an generic model for ABA autism facility; if any other autistic organisations have been asked for similar information; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33873/04]

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In the context of ongoing discussions with the Irish Autism Alliance, my Department has sought a template for the development of autism facilities. It is open to any other body to submit proposals in this regard.

My Department would be glad to consider these proposals in the context of special education policy development. My Department will pay particular regard to the views of the National Council for Special Education.

David Stanton

Question:

291 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 486 of 17 November 2004, if her interpretation of appropriate education includes full-time intensive ABA education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33874/04]

View answer

All children with special educational needs, including those with autism, should receive an education appropriate to those needs. The determination of need in each case would be a matter in the first instance for the school which the child is attending, in consultation, as appropriate, with the National Council for Special Education and the National Educational Psychological Service.

David Stanton

Question:

292 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science when decisions will be made regarding the future of ABA facilities by her; when these decisions will be made known publicly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33875/04]

View answer

The future position of the ABA facilities beyond the school year 2004-05 will be considered within the context of the review of autism-specific provision which is currently being undertaken by my Department's inspectorate. The question of appropriate action will be considered when this review has been completed. No decision has been taken at this stage regarding the publication of the outcome of the review. The priority will be to ensure that the education providers concerned, and through them the parents and pupils, are advised of the position at the earliest possible date.

I assure the Deputy that a measured approach will be taken to considering the future status of the ABA facilities. In that regard, my intention is to ensure continuity of provision for the pupils in question. My Department is continuing to fund the ABA facilities for the 2004-05 school year.

David Stanton

Question:

293 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide information on the number of children attending each of the ABA specific establishments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33876/04]

View answer

My Department has allocated funding to the CABAS facilities on the basis of the following enrolments: 24 children in CABAS Dublin; 30 children in CABAS Cork and 18 children in CABAS Drogheda.

David Stanton

Question:

294 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the hourly rates applicable for children above and below the age of four with regard to the home tuition grant; if changes have been made by her Department in the past few weeks or months; if changes to the rates are envisaged in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33877/04]

View answer

The following hourly rates of home tuition grant are currently paid by my Department: €27.12, €35.12 and €40.52. The grant is not age-related. My Department proposes to keep the rates payable under review.

David Stanton

Question:

295 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has schemes in place for training special needs assistants in the way in which to deal with autistic children in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33878/04]

View answer

My Department has developed a strategy designed to meet the continuing professional development needs of all school personnel working with children with special educational needs, including special needs assistants.

In the first instance, the special needs assistants work under the direction of the teacher working with children with special needs, including children with autism. Ultimately, the special needs assistants work under the direction of the school principal.

My Department has funded the development and delivery of an introductory course for special needs assistants. This was developed in collaboration with three teacher training colleges, namely, St. Angela's College in Sligo, Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, and Church of Ireland College, Rathmines. The education centre network was also involved in this process. This course forms a 20 hour module of a certificate programme. The course is delivered on campus by the three colleges and each college offers a course on an outreach basis which is delivered by the 21 full-time education centres.

In September 2003, as part of its strategy, my Department established the special education support service, SESS, to manage, co-ordinate and develop a range of supports in response to identified training needs. The SESS, which is funded by my Department and hosted in Laois education centre, provides a nationwide service to teachers and special needs assistants.

As part of its response to the growing demand from teachers for support and training, the SESS is currently developing teams of trainers to deliver training in four specific areas, autism, challenging behaviour, dyslexia and inclusion at post-primary. This training will be delivered locally through the education centre network.

In addition, the SESS responds to requests from schools for support in a variety of autism-related areas. The steering committee which manages the SESS is fully committed to ensuring that all school staffs are provided with the necessary supports to work with children with special educational needs.

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