Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2016
286. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline his plans to increase the number of public preschools that can adequately cater for children with autism spectrum disorder. [12625/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in order to ensure that, wherever a child is enrolled, they will have access to an appropriate education.
Parents can choose to enrol children with autism in an early intervention class from the age of three and where such a placement is not available home tuition may be approved.
The Deputy will also be aware that the role of the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is to make appropriate arrangements to establish special classes in schools, including early intervention classes for children with autism, in various geographical areas as required. Progress in developing this network has been significant and in addition to the special school placements there are over 1,000 special classes throughout the country at primary and post primary level, of which 762 are for children with Autism. This includes 116 early intervention classes.
A full list of special classes is available on the NCSEs website www.ncse.ie.
In November 2015, a new model for supporting children with a disability to access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was launched. The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a cross-Government initiative, led by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, and involving the Department of Health, the Department of Education and Skills and others.
The model will deliver seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, to enable the full inclusion and meaningful participation of children with disabilities in the ECCE programme.
My Department has recently received the NCSE's policy advice on supporting students with ASD. My officials will consider and report to me on any recommendations which relate to the issues raised by the Deputy.
