Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2015
524. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she expects to be in a position to ensure adequate places in secondary level school throughout County Kildare for children with autism, Asperger’s or special needs, having particular regard to those in respect of which she has received requests in this context; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9306/15]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that this Government is committed to ensuring that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational interventions, delivered by fully qualified professional teachers, with the support of special needs assistants and the appropriate school curriculum. Young people with autism transitioning from primary school placements have a number of alternative options including mainstream placement in post primary school with support, placement in a special class in a mainstream school or placement in a special class in a special school. The Deputy will also be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support students with Special Educational Needs including Autism. It is also the role of the NCSE to make appropriate arrangements to establish special classes in schools in various geographical areas as required. SENOs engage with schools annually in order to plan for, and to open, new special classes each year in order to ensure there are sufficient special class placements available at primary and post primary school level to meet demand in a given area.
