Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 March 2006
509 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the need to fund the ABA pre-school at a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow, she will ensure that funding is provided as requested by the parents and staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8922/06]
View answer541 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason applications for funding for a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow were left unacknowledged by her Department for nine months. [9293/06]
View answer542 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason the recommendations of the national educational psychology services, which were communicated to her Department in July-August 2005, were never forwarded to a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow. [9294/06]
View answer543 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science if the procedures for receiving sanction had changed the reason a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow was not advised of the changes until 1 February 2006. [9296/06]
View answer544 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason the establishment of the board of management was not an issue for her Department when a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow was contacted and asked to establish a post-primary ABA class in August 2005 or when students were enrolled into the special school in September 2005. [9297/06]
View answer545 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason her Department fund other ABA schools and not a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow. [9298/06]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 509, and 541 to 545, inclusive, together.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department has recently been engaged in extensive correspondence with the school in question relating to a range of issues, including those referred to by the Deputy. My Department has sanctioned three special classes for children with autism in this school. However, the issue relates to an unapproved class established by the school authorities themselves.
The 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. The Department also supports 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, and picture exchange communication system, PECS.
My officials and the NCSE met with representatives of the school referred to by the Deputy on Wednesday 1 February to discuss a range of issues. The school is now aware of what it needs to do to progress matters to the next stage. It will be a matter for the NCSE to process the application and in doing so to seek whatever additional information it requires from the school in order to enable it to make an informed decision. The NCSE can seek advice if required from my Department in relation to the application. Factors such as the needs of the individual children, levels of existing provision in the area and geographical location of the proposed attendees are matters that the NCSE will need to consider in processing the application.
As I am sure the Deputy is aware, the NCSE became operational in 2005 and circulars Sp. Ed. 01/05 and NCSE 01/05 issued to all schools, including special schools, outlining the revised procedures when applying for additional resources for special needs pupils. There was ongoing contact between the school authorities, my Department, the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, and the NCSE regarding issues relating to the school.
In accordance with section 14 of the Education Act 1998, the patron of a school has a statutory duty to appoint a board of management, BOM. Similarly a BOM has statutory duties under the Education Act which must be fulfilled. Since early 2004 officials from my Department have been engaged in regular correspondence with the patron body of this school advising it of the requirement for a BOM to be established. My Department has been advised that a BOM will be in place by 27 March, 2006.
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.
