Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The issue I want to bring to the Taoiseach's attention this afternoon is a crisis in the availability of post-primary places for children on the autistic spectrum. There is a chronic lack of places and a similar lack of secondary schools making provision for children and young people on the autism spectrum. If one looks at how the primary situation evolved over the past decade and a half, one will see that initially in the late 1990s - from 1998 onwards - departmental inspectors engaged with schools to facilitate the establishment of many special classes in primary schools. There was quite dramatic growth and engagement. There has been a complete absence of that kind of proactivity, co-ordination and demographic planning at second level for children with autism. Overall, we have 548 autistic spectrum disorder, ASD, classes at primary level, which are classes for children with autism. At post-primary level, there are 237. One can immediately see the enormous shortage of suitable places. There is also a complete lack of proactivity on the part of the Department of Education and Skills. The National Council for Special Education does not have the powers to instruct schools to take in children with autism.

There is no planning and every year there is incredible pressure on parents to do all the running. Everything is left to the last minute. A meeting was organised in Cork last night by a teacher who works in a school with a special autism unit at second level. He is absolutely fed up of having to deal with the anguish of parents who are applying to this particular school but who are told there are no places available. There are not many other schools to send their children to because very few offer second-level placements for children with autism. There was a huge turnout at the meeting but this is a national issue. In every county there are parents who do not know where their children will be next September. This is because of gaps in the legislative framework and the absence of a proper engagement with schools, as well as a lack of proper planning and of resources.

The wherewithal to deal with this matter exists in the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill. Will the Government agree to give powers to the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to ensure that children are accepted by second-level schools and to instruct such schools to set up special units? It cannot be left to a small number of second-level schools to do it but that is what is going on at the moment. It is about time that everybody put their shoulder to the wheel and that the national council is given the legislative powers it needs.

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