Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also want to speak about special educational needs. In recent days I have spoken with the Tallaght Parents Autism Support Group and the Clondalkin autism parents network. They asked me to raise the lack of autism spectrum disorder, ASD, secondary school places in the Dublin Mid-West constituency. According to information they received from the National Council for Special Education indicates that there are 17 primary school with 29 ASD classes in the constituency. There are 174 children in ASD primary school classes. We have five secondary schools with 1.5 ASD classes each that accommodate 45 children. Simple maths tells me that putting 174 children into 45 places does not go. Why is the Government still working with half-class models? Instead of having 1.5 ASD classes per school, why not simply have two? What plans does the Government have to address the lack of secondary school ASD classes in my area and across the State?

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