Mr. Eddie Ward:

The Department is working closely with the Middletown centre as matters stand. We view Middletown as a centre for excellence on autism. We want to work with it and we have a programme of work with it at the moment. The centre works with the NCSE and delivers programmes for us. The centre will also be very closely involved as we move forward. For example, we are looking at a training programme for schools which are establishing special classes for the first time in September. The Middletown centre will be involved with our own National Education Psychological Service and the NCSE in developing that programme. I do not want to pre-empt how the delivery might work but clearly we are involving the centre more and more in our thinking, policy-making and planning. It is already involved in the delivery of programmes. The centre has expertise that we do not have in ready supply and we will be drawing on that.

The Department spends approximately €50 million each year on teacher education. That covers everything from employing teachers, developing and delivering programmes, paying for substitute teachers in the base schools and all of the other expenditure involved in teacher education. The expenditure is significant and it is going to increase. Much of that increase is connected to new curriculum innovation and all of the things that will happen in a school such as the introduction of mandatory child protection guidelines, etc. There is much going on. The issue of special needs and spectrum disorders, however, is a priority. We are very aware of the increased needs, as we see it, and the issue of how we will respond to those needs. Deputy Buckley referred to resources and as a good official I should refer to resources as well every now and again. It is a question of balancing priorities. However, we take the point on board. Middletown has expertise and we will certainly be utilising that.