Written Answers Nos. 274-295
274. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a special needs assistant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45675/13]
View answerI 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. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of Special Education supports and the staffing resources available to my Department. All schools were advised to apply to the NCSE for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2013/14 school year by 15th March, 2013. The NCSE published details of all of their allocations for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2013/2014 school year in June of this year. The NCSE has also now published details of the additional SNA allocations which have been made to schools since the initial allocations were made to schools in June. The NCSE published details of these revised allocations on 21st October, 2013. These details are now available on the NCSE website, www.ncse.ie, and detail the allocations made for each school on a per county basis. Currently, 12 SNAs have been approved for the school referred to by the Deputy. Schools can contact the NCSE if they have enrolled children who were not considered at the time that the revised SNA allocations were made to schools, or where they are seeking a revision to the quantum of SNA support which has been allocated to them. In general, a revision to SNA allocations will only be made in circumstances where schools have enrolled new pupils, or where schools can demonstrate that they do not have sufficient SNA posts to cater for the care needs of all of the qualifying children in their school. As the Deputy's question refers to an application for SNA support for an individual child, I have referred the this question to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
275. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts being made to assist with securing a mainstream national school place for a student with a cochlear implant (details supplied) whose family have been unable to secure such a placement to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45689/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the policy of my Department is to secure the maximum possible level of inclusion of students with special educational needs in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, in order to ensure that as many children as possible can be educated with their peers within their own community. My Department therefore provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs in order to ensure that, wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education. Children with special educational needs may be enrolled in a mainstream school and attend all mainstream classes and receive additional teaching support through the learning support and/or resource teacher. Or they may enrol in a mainstream school and attend a special class, or they may enrol in a special school. The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The NEWB will try to help parents to find a school placement if their child has been unable to secure a school placement to date. The NEWB can be contacted at National Educational Welfare Board, National Headquarters, 16-22 Green Street, Dublin 7 or by telephone at 01-8738700. In addition, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) can assist parents to identify appropriate educational placements for children with special educational needs. I understand that in relation to the child referred to by the Deputy, that the National Council for Special Education has been engaging with this child's parents in order to assist to identify suitable school placements and to advise of the resources which may be provided in the various educational settings. The enrolment of a child in a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools. Where a school refuses to enrol a pupil, the school is obliged to inform parents of their right under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 to appeal that decision to the Secretary General of my Department. Only where an appeal under Section 29 is upheld, may the Secretary General of my Department direct a school to enrol a pupil.
276. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps and intervention he is taking in the case of a school (details supplied) in County Louth which currently employs a retired teacher for a prolonged time since September 2013; and also employed another retired teacher on a long-term basis in the past year. [45701/13]
View answerThe policy of my Department is to ensure, as far as possible, that the Managerial Authorities of schools give priority to unemployed registered teachers who are fully qualified when filling vacant teaching posts. It is important to note that schools themselves employ teachers and not the the Department of Education and Skills. However my Department has issued a number of circulars addressing this issue in recent years. Under these circulars school Principal's must maintain a list of unemployed registered teachers and report to the Board of Management on any exceptional occasion where they have to engage a registered teacher who is retired. Circular 31/2011 details a cascade of measures for recruitment of teachers, prioritising registered teachers over retired registered teachers and unregistered people. A retired teacher who returns to teaching on or after 1 February 2012 will commence at the first point of the incremental salary scale. Incremental credit for service prior to 1 February 2012, qualification allowances and certain job role allowances are also not payable. This measure represents a significant financial disincentive for teachers who retired at the top of their salary scale, often with a post of responsibility allowance, to return to teaching. The first point of the teacher's salary scale represents the lowest point or starting salary for teachers. Thus it was decided that retired teachers would be placed at that point of the scale. In the light of the information provided by the Deputy my Department will seek a report from the school regarding their implementation of Circular 31/2011.
277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress to date in determination of an application for higher education grant in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45769/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support that, in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy, her application will be processed following receipt of requested documents and the applicant will be informed directly of the outcome.
278. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review eligibility for a higher education grant in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45786/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy did not make an application for the academic year 2013/14. Late applications can still be made on www.susi.ie.
279. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason only 6% of participants on Springboard courses are under 25 years of age; if he is concerned at this low number; the actions he will take to increase this number in view of the high level of youth unemployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45823/13]
View answerSpringboard is a specific initiative that strategically targets funding of free part time higher education courses for unemployed people in areas where there are identified labour market skills shortages. The Springboard programme is open to people of all age groups, and is specifically targeted at people with a previous history of employment or self employment that have lost jobs in sectors where employment levels will not return and who will need new qualifications and skills in order to re-enter employment. The age profile of people particpating in Springboard is reflects the age progfile of people who are unemployed. Approximately 10% of the more than 10,000 participants that enrolled on programmes under Springboard 2011 and 2012 were aged 25 years and under. An additional 6,000 places are currently being rolled out under Springboard 2013. The latest data available shows that approximately 12% of the participants that have enrolled on 2013 programmes to date are aged 25 and under.
280. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to the announcement in budget 2014 that 2,000 places would be ring-fenced for young jobseekers under 25 years in the successor to the Momentum programme; when this new scheme will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45824/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware 2,000 training places will be targeted specifically for unemployed people aged under 25 at a cost of 6 million euro. This measure is one strand of a Youth Guarantee initiative being implemented across a number of Government Departments, and which is being led by the Department of Social Protection. These places will be provided under a follow up to the Momentum programme operating in 2013. A design feature of Momentum provides for continuous evaluation of the programme so we can ensure that the training provided is effective, efficient and value for money. I expect to have the outcome of these evaluations by year end. Recommendations from this evaluation will be incorporated into the new programme and I would expect that a new round of momentum will be announced in early 2014.
281. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information on the proposed amalgamation of schools (details supplied) in County Galway; if an impact analysis for the staff in both schools has been conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45830/13]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the initiative for an amalgamation may come from a variety of sources, such as parents, staff, Board of Management and in particular, the Patron. The decision making authority for any amalgamation including any appropriate arrangements belongs to the Patron of a school, subject to the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills. The trustees of the schools referred to by the Deputy submitted a proposal to amalgamate some time ago. The Department has met with the Trustees on a number of occasions to discuss the various issues arising. Department officials also wrote to the trustees on a number of occcasions earlier this year to seek further information in relation to the proposal and a response is awaited. The matter will be given further consideration when this information is received.
282. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will investigate the circumstances of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo who applied for and was awarded a higher education grant for 2012-13 but who subsequently did not receive any payment despite being asked for and providing bank details; if he will instruct Student Universal Support Ireland to review this file; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45835/13]
View answerOfficials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland that they have no record of having received an application from a student with the details supplied by the Deputy.
283. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for a special needs assistant in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45875/13]
View answerI 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. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of Special Education supports and the staffing resources available to my Department. All schools were advised to apply to the NCSE for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2013/14 school year by 15th March, 2013. The NCSE published details of all of their allocations for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2013/2014 school year in June of this year. The NCSE has also now published details of the additional SNA allocations which have been made to schools since the initial allocations were made to schools in June. The NCSE published details of these revised allocations on 21st October, 2013. These details are now available on the NCSE website, www.ncse.ie, and detail the allocations made for each school on a per county basis. Currently, 7 SNAs have been approved for the school referred to by the Deputy. Schools can contact the NCSE if they have enrolled children who were not considered at the time that the revised SNA allocations were made to schools, or where they are seeking a revision to the quantum of SNA support which has been allocated to them. In general, a revision to SNA allocations will only be made in circumstances where schools have enrolled new pupils, or where schools can demonstrate that they do not have sufficient SNA posts to cater for the care needs of all of the qualifying children in their school. As the Deputy's question refers to an application for SNA support for an individual child, I have referred the this question to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
284. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on his plans for the provision of accommodation for Navan Educate Together national school, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45876/13]
View answerThe planned school project at Navan Educate Together National School has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). It is scheduled for delivery during 2014/2015 as announced under the Five Year Plan. The NDFA and its Design Team have secured planning permission for this school. The project is currently at tender stage.
285. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on his plans for the provision of accommodation for St. Mary's Special School, Johnstown, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45877/13]
View answer340. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he expects work to commence on building a new school building (details supplied); if the design work is completed for the building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46986/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 340 together.
The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of Architectural Planning. It forms part of a campus development with phase 2 of Colaiste na Mi. Both schools are being progressed as a single project under the same design team. The design team are currently working on the completion of Stage 1 of Architectural Planning. The project for this school was included in the 5 year building programme announced in March 2012 and is listed to progress to construction in 2015/16.
286. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the following case regarding provision of a special needs assistant (details supplied). [45900/13]
View answerI 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. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of Special Education supports and the staffing resources available to my Department. All schools were advised to apply to the NCSE for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2013/14 school year by 15th March, 2013. The NCSE published details of all of their allocations for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2013/2014 school year in June of this year. The NCSE has also now published details of the additional SNA allocations which have been made to schools since the initial allocations were made to schools in June. The NCSE published details of these revised allocations on 21st October, 2013. These details are now available on the NCSE website, www.ncse.ie, and detail the allocations made for each school on a per county basis The school referred to by the Deputy currently has 1 approved SNA post. Schools can contact the NCSE if they have enrolled children who were not considered at the time that the revised SNA allocations were made to schools, or where they are seeking a revision to the quantum of SNA support which has been allocated to them. In general, a revision to SNA allocations will only be made in circumstances where schools have enrolled new pupils, or where schools can demonstrate that they do not have sufficient SNA posts to cater for the care needs of all of the qualifying children in their school. As the Deputy's question refers to an application for SNA support for an individual child, I have referred the this question to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
287. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to specify the supports available to autistic children at an early stage of their development, recognising the importance of early intervention for these children; if he will outline how the transition from preschool to primary school is managed so that supports provided at preschool level are maintained when an autistic child progresses to primary school, including the allocation of a special needs assistant to assist the child. [45928/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy in the first instance that my Department is primarily concerned with the provision of educational services to children with special educational needs. The provision of other supports, for example, therapeutic, speech and language support, occupational therapy, etc. is a matter for the Health Services Executive. It would be important from the outset to highlight that my Department's policy is focused on ensuring that all children, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary network. This facilitates access to individual education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers, special needs assistants and the appropriate school curriculum with the option, where possible, of fully/partial integration and integration with other pupils. As each child with autism is unique, it is important that they have access to a range of interventions so that their broader needs can be met. In terms of the education provision for children who have autism, my Department has always recognised the importance of early intervention. Children with autism can be enrolled in an early intervention class from the age of 3 and there are now some 76 early intervention classes in recognised primary and special schools. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) will continue to establish further classes where such need has been identified. My Department's home tuition scheme provides funding for children with autism are unable to access school placements and for children from age 2.5 who are too young to enrol in an early intervention class. Children from the age of 2.5 up to 3 years receive a grant from my Department to provide for 10 hours home tuition per week. Upon reaching the age of 3, and where the child has no school placement, my Department will increase those hours to 20 per week. Children in early intervention classes benefit from a reduced pupil-teacher ratio of 6:1. Class teachers are fully qualified and have access, through the Special Education Support Service, to training in a range of autism-specific interventions. Each class will have a minimum of 2 Special Needs Assistants. For children enrolled in early intervention classes, my Department also provides for assistive technology, specialist equipment and special school transport arrangements may also be put in place. My Department is ever conscious of the need to adapt existing policies and to develop new policies. I have recently requested the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to prepare Policy Advice on the Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The NCSE has commissioned research which will not be finalised until mid to late 2014 and I expect that this will inform much of the work in preparing the policy advice. Accordingly, it is not expected that the policy advice will be finalised until early 2015. My Department will be paying particular attention to the provision of early intervention services for children with an autism spectrum disorder.
288. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the number of special needs assistants currently employed in primary schools across the State; and indicate if the cap on SNA appointments will be breached by the end of this year. [45929/13]
View answer289. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plan to change the manner in which special needs assistants are allocated to schools based on the overall schools' needs rather than on each individual pupil's diagnosis; and if such changes are put in place, if it can be ensured that the special educational needs of each child in primary schools in the State can be adequately facilitated. [45930/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 289 together. The Deputy will be aware that the previous Government, as part of the Programme for National Recovery, introduced a cap on the number of Special Needs Assistants. This figure was set at 10,575 posts and has remained in place since the 2011/12 school year. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports including Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support, to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of such supports and the staffing resources available to my Department. The NCSE has notified schools of their SNA allocation for 2013/14, based on the number of valid applications received and the extent of the care needs of qualifying children. Details of these allocations are available at www.ncse.ie. To date the NCSE has allocated approximately 10,520 Whole Time Equivalent SNA posts to schools. The remaining 55 posts are available for allocation throughout the school year, for new assessments of disability, new entrants, or emergency or late applications, in accordance with the terms of the SNA scheme. Of these posts allocated, there are currently 8,407 whole time equivalent SNAs employed in Primary schools, including Special schools which are designated as Primary schools. Based on discussions with the NCSE, it may be the case that additional SNA posts above the figure of 10,575, may be required to respond to need for the current school year. This issue will be dealt with if and when it arises. The NCSE is still processing SNA applications for the current school year. The NCSE allocates a quantum of SNA support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support each year. The deployment of SNAs within schools is then a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management. SNAs should be deployed by the school 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. It is important to note that the level of SNAs required to support children with special educational needs changes from year to year in line with the enrolment of different children with different care needs. The care needs of individual children can also change from year to year. The NCSE takes these factors into account when allocating SNAs to schools. My Department has published a Value for Money (VFM) and Policy Analysis Review of the Special Needs Assistant scheme. This review is available on my Departments website: www.education.gov.ie. The Review has shown that the SNA Scheme has been successful in supporting schools in meeting the needs of students with disabilities who also have significant care needs. However, the review also found that the allocation process and the purpose of the scheme is not always fully understood. The review recommended that the SNA scheme should be restated to ensure an efficient allocation of SNA resources and to clarify the 'care' nature of the SNA role for parents, schools and professionals. The National Council for Special Education recently published its report on Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools, which also recommended that my Department should clarify the role of the SNA, as recommended in the VFM report. It is my intention that a new Circular will be issued to schools in the near future which will provide further clarification for schools and parents with regard to the role of the SNA and the purpose of the SNA scheme.
291. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of times during each of the past four years representatives of the NUI group of universities have met to discuss the matter of A level and applied A level subjects recognised for the purposes of matriculation in these institutions; the departmental guidelines governing this practice; his plans to require NUI admissions officers to meet with representatives from the Department of Education in the North regarding the range of A level and applied A level subjects available there and the impact this has on prospective applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46056/13]
View answerUniversities and institutes of technology are autonomous statutory bodies and the recruitment of students and the establishment of admissions criteria are matters for the individual institutions concerned. My Department has no function in relation to such matters. I understand that the list of A Level subjects recognised for NUI matriculation purposes is available on the NUI website: www.nui.ie. Students intending to present a subject not included in the list are advised to contact the NUI or the admissions office of the individual institution to which they intend applying.
292. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the name, qualifications and current salary of each political staff member appointed by him. [46085/13]
View answerThe tabular statement contains the name, grade, term of service and the salary in relation to political appointees at my Department. The appointments were made in accordance with the guidelines on Ministerial Appointments as published by the Department of Finance on the 24th, March 2011. Copies of the post holders contracts of employment were laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas together with details of their qualifications where appropriate.
Ruairí Quinn, T.D.
Minister for Education & Skills
|
Name |
Grade |
Start Date |
End Date |
Salary |
|
John Walshe |
Special Adviser |
05/07/2011 |
Current |
€87,258 |
|
Deirdre Grant |
Special Adviser |
05/07/2011 |
Current |
€81,676 |
|
*Siobhan Creaton |
Temp Special Adviser |
30/04/2013 |
Current |
€75,645 |
|
**Neil Ward |
Personal Secretary Personal Assistant |
11/04/2011 07/09/2013 |
06/09/2013 Current |
€45,940 €47,304 |
|
Ian O Mara |
Personal Assistant |
10/03/2011 |
06/09/2013 |
€49,790 |
|
Jody Madigan |
Personal Secretary |
09/09/2013 |
Current |
€45,160 |
|
Nashie Grady |
Driver |
04/05/2011 |
04/11/2013 |
€32,851 |
|
Seamus Cosgrove |
Driver |
17/05/2011 |
Current |
€32,851 |
|
David Donnelly |
Driver |
05/11/2013 |
Current |
€32,851 |
*Ms. Creaton was appointed in a temporary capacity to cover the duration of Ms. Deirdre Grant’s maternity leave.
**Neil Ward was made Personal Assistant with effect from the 7th, September 2013 following the resignation of Ian O Mara from that position.
Ciaran Cannon, T.D.
Minister of State with responsibility for Training & Skills
|
Name |
Grade |
Start Date |
End Date |
Salary |
|
Niamh Lawless |
Personal Secretary |
10/06/2011 |
Current |
€45,160 |
|
Martina Forde |
Personal Assistant |
10/03/2011 |
Current |
€49,790 |
|
Liam Lawless |
Driver |
11/04/2011 |
Current |
€32,851 |
|
Brendan Glynn |
Driver |
11/04/2011 |
Current |
€32,851 |
293. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any short to medium term plans to provide an Educate Together secondary school in Carlow. [46109/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, in June 2011, I announced that 20 new post-primary schools are to be established up to 2017 to cater for increasing demographics across a number of locations. This announcement did not include a proposal to establish a new post-primary school in Carlow. The Forward Planning Section of my Department will continue to analyse demographic trends to determine the level of additional school provision which will be required into the future. Should the need for any new post-primary school emerge in Carlow it will be open to Patron bodies to apply for patronage in line with the established process, which was announced in June 2011.
294. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a special needs assistant will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46114/13]
View answerI 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. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of Special Education supports and the staffing resources available to my Department. All schools were advised to apply to the NCSE for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2013/14 school year by 15th March, 2013. The NCSE published details of all of their allocations for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2013/2014 school year in June of this year. The NCSE has also now published details of the additional SNA allocations which have been made to schools since the initial allocations were made to schools in June. The NCSE published details of these revised allocations on 21st October, 2013. These details are now available on the NCSE website, www.ncse.ie, and detail the allocations made for each school on a per county basis. At present, 5 SNAs have been approved for the school freferred to by the Deputy. Schools can contact the NCSE if they have enrolled children who were not considered at the time that the revised SNA allocations were made to schools, or where they are seeking a revision to the quantum of SNA support which has been allocated to them. In general, a revision to SNA allocations will only be made in circumstances where schools have enrolled new pupils, or where schools can demonstrate that they do not have sufficient SNA posts to cater for the care needs of all of the qualifying children in their school. As the Deputy's question refers to an application for SNA support for an individual child, I have referred the this question to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
295. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reconsider the decision to restrict the home tuition grant to tuition provided by teachers registered with the Teaching Council of Ireland, specifically where intervention is required for preschool children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46144/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the purpose of my Department's Home Tuition scheme is to provide a compensatory education to children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting a suitable educational placement and also to provide early educational intervention for pre-school children with autism. Home Tuition is for educational teaching intervention only. The provision of therapeutic services such as Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, psychological services are a matter for the HSE. My Department currently provides funding through the Home Tuition scheme for children with autism who are unable to access school placements and for children from age 2.5 who are too young to enrol in an early intervention class. Children, who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, can access early intervention classes from the age of 3. Children attending such classes have access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers who may draw from a range of autism specific interventions, special needs assistants, and the appropriate school curriculum with the option, where possible, of full or partial integration and interaction with other pupils. It is appropriate therefore that the qualification standard required by the Home Tuition scheme reflects that required in a school environment. Class teachers in all schools are required to be fully qualified with a qualification relevant to the sector in which they are teaching. All primary teachers are qualified to teach in any primary or special school classroom. Teachers have access, through the Special Education Support Service, to continuing professional development in a range of autism specific interventions, including Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA), the Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) and the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). I have requested the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to prepare Policy Advice on the Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The NCSE has commissioned research which will not be finalised until mid to late 2014 and I expect that this research will inform much of the work in preparing the policy advice. Accordingly, it is not expected that the report will be finalised until early 2015.
