Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 March 2006
237 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if funding of the ABA unit will be sanctioned as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8594/06]
View answerMy Department, in the first instance, is most anxious that all children, including children with autistic spectrum disorders, receive an education appropriate to their needs. In this regard, the preferred approach to the provision of appropriate education for all children, including children with autism, is through the primary and post-primary school network, whether through placement in mainstream classes, in special classes or in special schools. My Department would also support an eclectic approach in regard to the education of children with autism where a range of teaching methods are available, for example, treatment and education of autistic and related communication handicapped children, TEACH, applied behavioural analysis, ABA, picture exchange communication system, PECS.
This Department sanctioned two pre-school special classes for children with autism to St. Catherine's special school in February 2005. The school established a third pre-school class without approval from my Department or the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. As indicated to the Deputy on 21 February last, it is now a matter for the school to proceed with the process of applying for sanction for further classes for children with ASD as outlined to it in my Department's letter of 8 February. When this process is complete, the NCSE, through the relevant special education needs organiser, SENO, will contact the authorities of St. Catherine's special school regarding the outcome. My Department provided further clarification on the process to St. Catherine's in a letter dated 28 February 2006.
I can confirm that I will continue to prioritise the issue of special needs education for children with autism and, in co-operation with the NCSE, ensure that all children with special needs are adequately resourced to enable them to meet their full potential.
