Vol. 565 No. 2
284 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give an indication of the actions he has taken and proposes to take in respect of the centre of excellence for children suffering from autism spectrum disorder and dyslexia; and the date by which he expects to see these actions completed. [10573/03]
In April last year, the then Minister of Education in Northern Ireland, along with my predecessor, announced the establishment of the first ever all island centre of excellence for children with autistic spectrum disorders. The centre is to be established at the former St. Joseph's Training School at Middletown, County Armagh. Proposals for the centre envisage the following:
a diagnostic support and educational assessment service for children and young people referred to the centre with a suspected or confirmed autistic spectrum disorder; a training and advisory service for parents, teachers and other professionals; an individual learning centre; an autism research, dissemination and information service; and residential accommodation with care staff.
285 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department has received correspondence from the principal at Coláiste Éanna, Kilternian Road, Cabra west, Dublin, on the matter of extra teaching hours for disadvantaged students; if this person has been waiting for six months for a response from his Department; and if he has made a decision on the request for financial support to pay for extra teaching hours. [10574/03]
My Department is not aware of correspondence from the principal of the school in question in relation to students suffering educational disadvantage arising from socio-economic factors. The principal of the school, who has been contacted in this matter, has indicated that no such submission has been made by him.
However, I can confirm that the relevant VEC has made application for additional support services for a number of children with disabilities in its area, including children from the school in question. This application is currently being considered by my Department and I am hopeful that a response will issue shortly.
