Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2007
835 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will immediately review the decision not to allow special education needs officers to assist in the provision of services to students in a school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [9994/07]
Amharc ar fhreagra880 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason the services of the special education needs organisers are withheld from children who are attending a school (details supplied); the person who decided to exclude these children in view of the fact that the SENO’s role is to assist children in mainstream places; if she will review the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10256/07]
Amharc ar fhreagra887 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the reasons children from a school (details supplied) in County Kildare are not being afforded access to special education needs officers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10314/07]
Amharc ar fhreagra888 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the way she will deal with applications for special education needs officers by schools such as a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; the discussions she has had with such organisations; the results of such discussions in view of the fact that early intervention plays a major part in improving the educational abilities of children with autism; and her plans to address this major concern. [10315/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 835, 880, 887 and 888 together.
The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was established under the Education for Persons with Special Needs Act (EPSEN) to improve the delivery of education services to persons with special educational needs arising from disabilities with particular emphasis on children.
Since it was established in 2005 NCSE is responsible for allocating resources for children with special educational needs. The Council has a key role in the delivery of services and operates through a network of special educational needs organisers (SENOs) who act as a focal point of contact for schools and parents.
A pilot scheme funded directly through my Department has facilitated the establishment a number of stand-alone autism units using the Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) methodology. The unit referred to by the Deputy is participating in this scheme. SENOs do however provide a service to parents of children attending such units as they can provide information to parents on a range of issues including appropriate educational placements available on completion of a period in the ABA units.
Research is definitive in supporting early educational intervention to reduce the impact of autism on some children. It has been found that many very young children respond well to early intervention, can develop communication and social skills and can graduate to mainstream schools with or without additional teaching supports.
My Department provides for an extensive early educational intervention through the home tuition programme which is currently funding individual educational intervention for in excess of 250 children from 2 ½ years to 5. Up to 3 years of age, a child is funded for ten hours per week early intervention home based programme. This increases to 20 hours per week once the child is 3 years of age. In addition, the Department has established 16 pre-schools for younger children with autism.
