Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 March 2014

Tuesday, 4 March 2014

Questions (75)

Seán Fleming

Question:

75. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if children who are transitioning to second level school who have been diagnosed by the Health Service Executive with Asperger's, without a diagnostic and statistical manual edition 4 reference in their report, get resource teaching hours or are they required to be reassessed and the way their resource teaching will be facilitated compared to children with a DSM 4 reference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10416/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will be aware 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, in accordance with my Department's established criteria. That criteria includes the need for pupils with autism to have an assessment based on DSM IV, DSM V or ICD 10. The NCSE is currently accepting applications from schools for resources for the 2014/2015 school year. They have advised that any schools applying on behalf of children who are currently in receipt of supports, but for whom HSE assessments are not specific with regard to the particular classification system used, should apply as usual and before the closing date of March 26th to enable the SENO to consider such individual cases further.