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Special Educational Needs Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2019

Tuesday, 22 October 2019

Ceisteanna (213)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

213. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and secondary schools in each county that have autism units; and the number of primary and secondary school students diagnosed with autism in each county. [43375/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department does not hold information in relation to the number of children with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in school.

The National Council for Special education (NCSE), an independent agency of my Department, is responsible for planning, coordinating and advising on education provision for children with special educational needs in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The NCSE’s policy advice on Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (2016) noted a national ASD prevalence rate of 1.55% or 1 in every 65 students.

There were 567,772 students enrolled in Primary schools and 362,899 students enrolled in Post Primary schools in the 2018/19 school year. Enrolment data for the 2019/20 year will be available later in the year.

167 new special classes will be opened for the 2019/20 school year, which means there will be 1,622 special classes in place, compared to 548 in 2011. 1,355 are Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) special classes, including 133 ASD early intervention classes, 852 primary ASD classes and 370 post-primary ASD classes in mainstream schools.

124 special schools also provide specialist education for those students with complex special educational needs including ASD.

Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs including special classes for Autism are available by county on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie.

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