Joint Committee on Autism to resume discussions on Autism Policy and Education

The meeting at 11am in Committee Room 4 of Leinster House will be split into two sessions.

11am-12:00pm – Representatives from The Teaching Council, Ms Phil Fox, Acting Director of the Teaching Council, Ms Bríd Murphy, Acting Head of Initial Teacher Education and Induction.

12:00pm-2pm – Representatives from the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI), Mr David Duffy, Education and Research Officer, and Ms Anne Howard, Assistant General Secretary;

Representatives from Fórsa, Ms Linda Kelly, National Secretary, Health & Welfare Division, and Mr Andy Pike, Head of Education;

Representatives from Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN), Mr Páiric Clerkin, CEO, and Ms Caroline Quinn, Leadership Support Team and retired principal.

Committee Cathaoirleach Senator Micheál Carrigy said: “The education system at all levels is critical when it comes to enabling autistic children to reach their full potential and the Committee wishes to find out how autistic people are enabled to participate fully in primary, post-primary and third-level education and how the transition between schools and further education and training is facilitated.

“Members are also interested in how the education system interacts with other services, including health and employment support services, and if there is sufficient inter-agency cooperation.

“An area of particular interest is how teachers are trained and supported in educating autistic people. The Teaching Council is the regulatory body for the teaching profession and has 116,000 teachers on the register. The Committee would like to hear what policy initiatives are ongoing or are planned, including teacher training, to assist autistic pupils and students.

“The Committee looks forward to hearing from Fórsa, which represents 16,000 workers in their education division and 30,000 workers in their health and welfare division, and who will have a view from both the education and the health service perspectives. The IPPN will be able to give the Committee views of primary school principals.

“The TUI represents over 19,000 teachers and lecturers in the Irish public education sector and is the third teachers’ union to meet the Committee. We would like to hear how Education and Inclusion is working out in practice and what is the role for special schools and special classes as well as mainstream schools.”

The Joint Committee on Autism has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 4 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.