Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

Last year CABAS applied for special school status, to use its own words, "in the interests of their children being able to avail of a child-centered, autism-specific education and with access to the Department of Education's curriculum". They want to have fully qualified teachers and access to the wide range of supports offered in line with the Department's policy. Deputies may also be aware that in the past week I gave recognition to the Rehab Group as the patron of a new special school for children with autism in Limerick. St. Michael's House is also planning for its special school for children with autism. Yesterday a school which only last September set up a special preschool class for autism in Derrinturn, County Kildare, asked if it could set up a second class because of the success of the preschool in supporting the children's education and integration.

See this speech in context