Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor for raising this issue as it gives me an opportunity to outline the current position on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. I thank Deputy Mitchell O'Connor for a detailed outline of the problems relating to this important issue.

April has become synonymous with the raising of awareness of autism and provides an opportunity to consider the challenges faced by children with autism and their families. As Deputy Mitchell O'Connor stated, the month also facilitates a celebration of the uniqueness of children and adults with autism. The Deputy will be aware of the Government's commitment 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 schools network. The Department of Education and Skills provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with autism to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled he or she will have access to an appropriate education. Children with autism may be enrolled in a mainstream school, attend all mainstream classes and receive additional teaching support through learning supports and resource teachers.

Some children with autism cannot be accommodated in mainstream education and they may be enrolled in special classes or schools where more intensive and supportive interventions are provided. The Department's position is that as each child with autism is unique he or she should have access to a range of different approaches to meet individual needs. As children differ significantly from one another and as their needs vary and change over time it is not possible to impose a method or approach that will work for all children with autism. Children with autism can enroll in an early intervention class from the age of three years. If they are assessed younger then home tuition can be provided from the age of two and a half. The pupil-teacher ratio for special classes for children with autism is 6:1 and each class has a minimum of two special needs assistants. Each year, children with autism can avail of an extended school year to include the month of July. This is commonly referred to as the July provision.

The Department of Education and Skills has put in place a training programme for teachers in autism-specific interventions, which are delivered through the special education support service. Training is provided in a range of interventions, including treatment and education of autistic and related communication-handicapped children, the picture exchange communication system and applied behaviour analysis. Last year, the Minister for Education and Skills called on the National Council for Special Education to prepare policy advice on the education of children with autism. The purpose was to identify the nature and extent of educational interventions, teaching practices and other supports which should be provided to enable children with autism to achieve educational outcomes appropriate to their needs and abilities. The NCSE has recently undertaken a comprehensive consultation process with parents, schools, professional service providers and other stakeholders. The Minister expects to receive this report in early 2015.

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