Vol. 520 No. 5
66 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to submissions by parents of children on the autistic spectrum under the care of Beechpark for the development of a coherent programme to meet the needs of these children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16183/00]
I am aware of the submissions to which the Deputy refers.
The submissions in question raise a range of very important issues relating to provision for children with autism, including issues relating to teacher training and the importance of proper long-term planning in providing for such children.
The Beechpark facility to which the Deputy refers delivers special educational services and special health care services to cater for the children in question. My Department works in close consultation with the health authorities, including the authorities at Beechpark, to ensure that suitable and comprehensive services are made available to the children in question.
The Deputy will be aware that I have recently announced my intention to establish a task force on autism to examine models of provision for children with this condition and to make recommendations for the future development of services in this area. The issues raised in the submissions to which the Deputy refers will be considered in this context.
