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Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 November 2012

Wednesday, 14 November 2012

Questions (123, 124)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

123. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the number of places available at pre-school, primary school and post-primary school levels in County Donegal for children diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50418/12]

View answer

Pearse Doherty

Question:

124. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form of the total number of special needs assistant hours allocated to children in County Donegal who have been diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50419/12]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 124 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including the allocation of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools and the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas, as required.

The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of Special Education supports and the staffing resources available to my Department. I wish to advise the Deputy that SNAs are not allocated to individual pupils. The NCSE allocates a quantum of SNA support for each school annually taking into account the care needs of all of the qualifying children enrolled in the school, and on the basis of the assessed care needs of the children, rather than solely by reference to a pupils' disability categorisation. SNAs should then be deployed by schools in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.

As such, the specific information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of SNA hours allocated to children with autism in Co. Donegal is not quantifiable, as the level of SNA support provided per pupil is not designated on the basis of disability categorisation, nor is there a set limited allocation of hours per pupils, once an allocation has been made to a school, and where care needs can vary over time.

I can advise the Deputy, however, that all schools have been advised by the NCSE of their SNA staffing allocations for the current school year. Details of the SNA allocations which have been made to each school, including schools in County Donegal, are available at www.ncse.ie and are detailed on a per County basis.

In addition, in relation to the availability of placements, I wish to explain that my Department strives to ensure that a continuum of special education provision is available as required for children with special educational needs. In line with this approach the policy is to promote a child-centred approach to education of all children with special educational needs including those with autism. As each child with autism is unique they should have access to a range of different approaches to meet their individual needs. Children with autism present with a wide range of needs. Some children are capable of being fully integrated into mainstream schools without additional teaching or care supports. Others are able to attend mainstream schools but need additional teaching and/or care assistance. Many are best enrolled in autism-specific classes where more intensive and supportive interventions are required. Some may move from one setting to another as they get older and differing needs/strengths/abilities emerge.

The Deputy will be aware that the establishment of a network of autism-specific special classes in schools across the country to cater for children with autism has been a key educational priority in recent years. In excess of 540 special classes for children with autism have been approved around the country at primary and post primary level, including many in special schools. Twenty five such special classes are provided in Donegal. Thirteen new special schools for children with autism were also granted official recognition in 2010. However, as children with autism may also attend mainstream classes in primary and post primary schools, there are not a set number of places specifically designated for children with autism in Co. Donegal.

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