Written Answers Nos. 54-59
54. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his policy regarding applied behavioural analysis intervention in the education of children with autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18116/14]
View answerMy Department supports the use of ABA and training is provided for teachers in its use. However, the Department does not accept, based on research, advice and best practice, that ABA should be the only approach used. While ABA helps to improve behaviour, other approaches, such as Treatment and Education of Autistic Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH), Picture Exchange Communications System (PECS) are just as important in developing children's communication and speech skills. It is important that children have access to a range of approaches so that their broader needs can be met. As children differ significantly from one another and as children's needs vary and change over time, it is not possible to impose a method or approach that will work for all children with autism. This child centred approach is based on advice received from international experts on autism, NEPS, the Inspectorate and the report of the Irish Task Force on Autism.
The Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is currently preparing policy advice on the education of children with autism. The NCSE have advised my Department that the Policy Advice will be delivered in the spring of 2015 and will draw upon findings gathered from an extensive consultation process which has already commenced. The advice will also draw upon the research commissioned by the NCSE as well as any other research which may be available and which the NCSE considers merits consideration. It will be open to all interested parties to contribute to the consultation process and I expect that the NCSE final report will reflect the broadest possible range of views and provide recommendations which will assist the development of policy for future years.
55. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills the strategic plan, if any, his Department has for the provision of ASD units or other special education units in post-primary schools across the country; if he appreciates the need to ensure that such units are available in any reasonable-sized post-primary school; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that SENOs are advising second level students to access places outside their catchment area; if he accepts that this approach will give rise to students crisscrossing regions to access special education units while such units should be available if at all possible in their local area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18139/14]
View answerThe 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.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.
I referred the Deputy's query to the NCSE with particular reference to the establishment of places for the coming school year. NCSE advised that it is currently planning, through its local network of SENOs, for special class settings for children who cannot be educated in a mainstream class setting but who can still attend their local school in a special class with a lower pupil–teacher ratio.
SENOs have been working with local schools on a national basis over the past number of months to plan and establish special classes for children with SEN who require such placements for 2014/2015. This work is ongoing in some counties and SENOs continue to liaise and work with schools in order to meet the demand for such placements at local level.
56. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills when an application for funding-grant under the higher education access route can be made in respect of the 2014-2015 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18143/14]
View answerThe Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a college and university admissions scheme which offers places on reduced points and extra college support to school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The scheme is operated by a number of higher education institutions and not by my Department. Admissions to the institutions are regulated by the institutions themselves.
The Deputy may wish to contact the Irish Universities Association in this instance. Further details in relation to the HEAR scheme are also available at www.accesscollege.ie.
57. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the enrolment policy for the Educate Together secondary school proposed for north County Wicklow; if he will ensure that students in north and east County Wicklow have access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18153/14]
View answerThe new post-primary school for North Wicklow is not opening until 2016. Therefore, its enrolment policy has not yet been put in place. School enrolment policies are a matter for a School's Board of Management in consultation with the Patron, which, in this case, is Educate Together.
58. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to evaluate the future primary school needs of Tallaght, Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18157/14]
View answerThe Forward Planning Section of my Department is currently analysing demographics on a nationwide basis to identify areas where additional school accommodation might be needed into the future. The Tallaght area will be examined as part of this process.
The Deputy will probably be aware, 4 new primary schools have already commenced operation in this area between 2012 and 2013. A further new primary school is due to open in September 2014. Collectively, these schools will provide capacity for an additional 8 junior infant intakes a year or some 224 pupils. When fully developed, the schools will cater for in the region of 1,792 pupils.
59. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his policy on building new schools where public access is only available via roads that have not been taken in charge by the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18159/14]
View answerIn relation to sites for new school provision, a range of factors are taken into account by my Department in assessing the suitability of a specific site, including safe access, traffic management and mobility issues. Considerations include safe circulation on the school grounds and also safe access to the grounds. In most cases, the preplanning consultation with the local authority would identify any requirements such as traffic calming measures or signage which the local authority may require to be incorporated into the design and construction of the access road.
Access roads to school sites are governed by the planning requirements set by the local authority. This is the situation regardless of whether or not the road is subsequently taken in charge by the local authority or remains in the ownership of the third party on whose lands the road has been constructed.
