Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A new specialist unit for children with autism has been lying idle for a number of months, almost a year, in the Castleknock Educate Together school in Dublin 15. Similarly to many other parts of Ireland, Dublin 15 — Castleknock, Blanchardstown, Mulhuddart and Clonsilla — has a significant number of children with autism. When the Department of Education and Science decided, with the agreement of the Castleknock Educate Together school, to include a special unit for the education of children with autism, there was general delight. The special facility has now been built as part of the new permanent school which was opened earlier this month amidst celebration by the Minister for Education and Science and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, for whom it was the third official opening in a year. It has a special purpose-built unit with spaces for two classes of six children, a playground, shower facilities and special rooms for therapists.

It seems extraordinary that in the context of the current crisis with respect to the number of children needing autism services, this wonderful resource could now be left lying idle. The school community at Castleknock Educate Together, the teachers, patrons and parents, are all anxious to see this facility up and running. There are many children in the area who would benefit hugely from these services and who are currently facing two two-hour commutes per day to very distant services all over Dublin and, in some cases, in County Meath. Like other Deputies, I met many families affected by autism during the recent election campaign. The demand for the service is enormous.

It appears that disputes between the Department of Education and Science and the HSE over financial contributions towards the staffing of the centre are at the heart of the failure to open this facility. I am delighted that the Minister of State with responsibility for children is here. Is it true that Beechpark Special Schools, which provides services for children with autism, is ready and willing to take over responsibility for specialist service provision for this unit, including the selection of children and the provision of ancillary specialist help such as therapists? Beechpark is under the control of the HSE. Can the Department of Education and Science discuss this with the HSE and sort it out, or are we back to the HSE recruitment embargo yet again?

The Department of Education and Science has indicated several times that it is ready to open the unit and would like to see it open, but the key question is whether the Minister is prepared to resource the unit appropriately. The bulk of the money for the unit has already been spent on building this lovely facility. It is a pity to see it lying idle, particularly when there is such need. Can the Minister of State say whether the negotiations on resourcing and opening the school have been concluded? Can he tell us definitively when the unit will open? Castleknock Educate Together waited seven years for a permanent building. The board and the school community positively sought and welcomed this facility.

The idea behind the special unit is that children with autism can get the special attention and services they require while being fully integrated into the national school. This is a positive development in Irish education. However, it is unclear what the Department proposes for these units and what their policy is towards the educational philosophy of these units. The Department has so far issued no detailed guidelines, provided no additional resources and offered no special training for the primary teachers in the national school who want to work in the unit. It is difficult to envisage how the Minister expects an ordinary primary school to open up a specialist unit without some additional resources. We should bear in mind that the Castleknock Educate Together school has many classes in which there are more than 30 children. The school has been in temporary accommodation for seven years. Can the Minister specify what the Department proposes to do and when this facility will be opened?

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank Deputy Burton for raising this issue. I will be replying on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Mary Hanafin.

The House will be aware of the commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with autism, receive an education appropriate to their needs. I therefore welcome the opportunity to discuss the opening of the special classes for autism in Castleknock Educate Together School in Dublin 15.

As the Deputy will be aware, the preferred approach of the Department of Education and Science is that children with autism receive the appropriate education through the primary and post-primary school network. I am pleased to report that in the past year alone more than 75 autism-specific classes were sanctioned by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to cater for pupils with autism, bringing the total now sanctioned to more than 275. A specific function of the NCSE, through its network of local special educational needs organisers, SENOs, is to identify appropriate educational placement for all children with special educational needs. I can confirm that the SENO with responsibility for the school in question has approved staffing for one special class for autism and is considering approval of a second class in the school to meet demand. The NCSE continues to establish additional autism classes where the need arises in both special and mainstream primary and post-primary schools.

The Deputy may be aware that the recently completed building project in Castleknock Educate Together school incorporates accommodation for the autism unit. Additional supports available from the Department for special classes for pupils with autism include start-up and enhanced capitation grants, and the school authorities in question have been advised accordingly. In addition, extra training support for staff engaged in education provision for children with autism can be accessed through the special education support service. This service will, as appropriate, consolidate, co-ordinate, develop and deliver a range of professional development initiatives and support structures to the relevant staff.

However, I understand the delay in the opening of the autism classes is associated with concerns the school authorities have surrounding the provision of therapeutic and clinical support for the autism unit which, as the Deputy will be aware, falls within the remit of the HSE. Officials in the Department have raised the concerns of the school with the Health Service Executive and will continue to liaise with the school management authorities in this regard.

The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, shares Deputy Burton's desire to see this purpose built facility for children with autism in Castleknock Educate Together school utilised to full potential and opened without further delay. I thank Deputy Burton for raising the issue. I will bring her comments directly to the attention of the Minister.