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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 17 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 4

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

David Stanton

Ceist:

213 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of autistic persons currently enrolled in the CABAS project in Cork; his plans to further increase the number enrolled; the timescale for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14518/01]

David Stanton

Ceist:

214 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of legal cases which have been settled out of court, in court and pending, respectively, with regard to education for autistic children; the costs incurred by the State in each category to date; his plans for the future regarding this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14519/01]

David Stanton

Ceist:

215 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of autistic children who have applied for and are awaiting entry into the CABAS project in Cork; the number of these who have been involved in legal action involving the Department of Education and Science; the outcome of these cases; his plans for the future of these children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14520/01]

I propose to take Questions No. 213, 214 and 215 together.

A total of 18 children are currently enrolled in the CABAS facility in Cork. My Department has agreed to fund an expansion of this facility to cater for up to 12 additional children. Efforts to arrange suitable accommodation for this expansion are continuing on an urgent basis. I am hopeful that the necessary accommodation will be in place early in the new school year.

I understand that applications for admission to the CABAS facility have been made in respect of a further 27 children. I understand that the parents of a number of these children are also considering alternative placements for their children. Legal actions have been initiated in respect of ten of the children. These actions are at various stages in the legal process. A number of the children in question will be accommodated through the proposed expansion of the CABAS facility.

In the last five years, 36 cases involving children with autism have been settled or adjourned generally on the basis that appropriate provision has been put in place for the individuals concerned. There are currently 42 cases listed before the High Court relating to actions taken by parents or guardians of individuals who have been diagnosed as autistic. The total amount of agreed damages-settlements and legal costs paid in respect of cases settled over the period in question is as follows.

Year

Agreed Damages andSettlements

Legal Costs

£

£

1996

30,000

Nil

1997

Nil

125,558.85

1998

60,995.97

40,300.85

1999

697,950

55,227.88

2000

650,481

132,059.41

One High Court decision involving an individual diagnosed with autism has been appealed to the Supreme Court. The outcome of that appeal is awaited.
The CABAS facility to which the Deputy refers was established in 1998 as a five year pilot programme to test the appropriateness and effectiveness of the CABAS approach to the education of children with autism.
My Department has commissioned the UK based National Foundation for Educational Research to carry out an independent evaluation of all current State funded models of response to children with autism, including the CABAS model and other models based on the applied behavioural analysis approach. The foundation has now commenced its work and will be in contact with the facilities in question over the coming weeks.
I have also established a special task force to review the adequacy of the current range of educational responses to children with autism, including responses based on the applied behavioural analysis approach and to make recommendations on the future development of services for the children in question. I expect to receive the report of the task force in June of this year.
A further key development in this regard is the recent report of the planning group established to make recommendations on the arrangements which should be put in place to ensure the most effective provision of a high quality co-ordinated service at all stages of the education system for students with disabilities, including students with autism. The recommendations brought forward by the planning group provide a valuable blueprint for the development of an effective special education service which will remove the need for parents to have to resort to litigation to secure their entitlements. It is my intention to seek Government approval to proceed with these measures shortly.
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