Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Funchion for raising this matter. As I did not get notice of the details on the individual child, I can only respond to the Deputy in a general way. However, I will undertake to get the Department to make contact with the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to advise on the case. It is not the case that people like me can make decisions about the best placement for a child like James.

As the Deputy will see from the general departmental response, there is an approach for all children with special needs, whereby it will be determined whether the best placement is in a mainstream class. Of the children with ASD, almost two thirds are in mainstream classes but there has been a massive expansion in the number of children who are accommodated in special classes within mainstream schools. In the case of Carlow-Kilkenny, there were 11 ASD classes in 2011 and now there are 48 such classes. The number of special classes has increased by six classes per year since 2011, demonstrating that an effort is being made to very substantially expand the provision of ASD classes.

In order for the NCSE to determine that a special class is appropriate for a child, that child has to undergo a professional assessment which would designate the type of disability, such as ASD, and the needs of the child. The child would also have to have significant learning needs that require the support of a specialised unit. Independent third party evidence must be brought to the NCSE before it can make a decision.

The expansion of provision in this area has been very rapid, as evidenced by the six additional special classes every year in Deputy Funchion's constituency. Typically if a school submitted an application to provide an a unit of this nature, that would be very sympathetically considered where there is an established need. Such applications are fast-tracked within the Department in terms of making provision. In addition, we ensure that all new schools at that are built include special classes, both at primary and at second level.

I do not have any information relating to the specific schools mentioned by Deputy Funchion or relating to James's particular needs. However, I will alert my officials to this particular case to see what can be done and to determine his status in the assessment process. In a general sense, the NCSE reports that there are special classes with places in the area. I understand that there are places available but whether they are in the schools that James is seeking is another matter. The NCSE anticipates that places in ASD units will be available within the area. Obviously we will have to see if they can accommodate the needs of James. It must be pointed out that special arrangements are made to provide transport in the event that a child with special needs has to travel a significant distance to attend a unit appropriate to his or her needs.

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