Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017
356. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schoolchildren with autism in mainstreams schools, the number of autism units within mainstream schools and the number of specific autism schools. [41047/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra358. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of school places available to children with autism in special schools. [41049/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 356 and 358 together.
The Deputy will be aware that this Government is committed to ensuring that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.
Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational interventions, delivered by fully qualified professional teachers, with the support of Special Needs Assistants and the appropriate school curriculum.
In respect of children with ASD who are unable to learn effectively in a mainstream class for most or all of the school day even with appropriate supports, they may be enrolled in special classes within mainstream schools or in special schools where more intensive and supportive interventions are provided.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) Autism Policy Advice Policy Advice on Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Schools noted that there were almost 14,000 students diagnosed with autism in schools. This indicates a national ASD prevalence rate of 1.55% or 1 in every 65 students.
My Department invests over €300m annually in providing additional resources specifically to support students with autism in schools enabling:
- 63% of students to attend mainstream schools
- 23% to attend special classes in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, and
- 14% to attend special schools.
The NCSE have informed my Department that currently there are approximately 12,775 students with ASD attending primary level (which includes all Special Schools). Of these 7,247 Students attend mainstream schools and are accessing in-school supports including Resource teaching and SNA support.
A further 3,484 students with ASD are attending Special Classes within their local mainstream schools.
The remaining 2,044 primary level students with ASD are placed in special schools.
