Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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12. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which he plans to ensure sufficient autism units are provided to address local demand. [31571/17]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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I want to ask about the Minister's plans to ensure a sufficient number of autism units are provided for children throughout the country.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, through its network of local special educational needs organisers, SENOs, in consultation with the relevant education partners, is responsible for the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas where there is an identified need. The NCSE, in looking to open special classes, must take into account the current and future potential need for such classes, taking particular account of the educational needs of the children concerned. The NCSE will also take account of location and sustainability in looking to establish special classes in certain areas.

Since 2011, the NCSE has increased the number of special classes by over 100%, from 548 in 2011 to 1,152 across the country now, of which 887 are autism spectrum disorder, ASD, special classes. The NCSE will establish an additional 145 ASD special classes for the coming school year, increasing the number of ASD special classes to 1,032. While it is not always possible to ensure that a special class placement will be available in the child’s local area, the NCSE has informed my Department that, in general, it is satisfied there are sufficient ASD special class placements to meet existing demand.

As the Deputy knows, given that this was raised by Deputy Thomas Byrne and others, we are planning to introduce a Report Stage amendment to the admissions Bill, which will provide, based on reports from the NCSE, that there will be a power to direct schools to open a special classes, if necessary. As this power will require a school to provide land or alter existing property, I am of the view that the power should be with the Minister who can engage the patron or trustees and that there should be adequate safeguards to ensure people’s rights are protected.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister said it has been reported there is an increased number of units in order to meet demand. I assure him that is not the case on the ground. I have met many parents and teachers who are totally frustrated. They feel very strongly about this issue and that their children are being failed. I am sure many Deputies concur with what I am saying because they have met the same stakeholders. The fact is there are not enough units.

I was very disappointed to see that a number of amendments which sought to address this issue were ruled out of order last week on the admissions Bill. It is a huge issue, as we have all been saying in the House. I am sure the parents who have contacted the Minister have told him the same thing. I welcome that the Minister has indicated he will deal with this issue on Report Stage of the admissions Bill but will he elaborate on this? Will he indicate whether this Bill will be dealt with before the recess?

I emphasise the need for inclusive education. The reports I am getting from parents are that they have to travel long distances in order for their child to attend a unit. That is wrong. It is not inclusive education and it is not giving children fair play or the chance to achieve a high quality education, far from it.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The figures speak for themselves. Since 2011, we have had a 136% increase in the number of ASD special units. We are massively expanding this area. Across the range of children on the ASD spectrum, many parents, some 61%, choose that their children are in mainstream classes, and they are supported there with resource teachers and with SNAs, where they are needed. The increase in resource teachers has been of the scale of 50% over that period and, in addition, there is a 32% increases in the number of SNAs. While there is a growing need and that is identified in early assessments, we are also seeing children with disabilities staying longer in our education system, completing programmes and progressing to third level. The system is having a tangible impact on the future of these children.

In terms of the debate in the House, I indicated to the committee that I would bring forward a Report Stage amendment. That will now be dealt with in September when we return. I am very conscious of the concern of Deputies on the need to do this, particularly Deputy Byrne, who tabled an amendment. We are fully committed to providing that power. It would be wrong to suggest we are not seeing many schools across the country gladly and openly welcoming the provision of these units.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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I believe the only way forward is for the NCSE to have the powers to designate a unit where there is local demand. That is the only way we can provide an inclusive and proper education to all of the children of this nation. It is problematic that there is a huge issue at second level in terms of the lack of resources, which has been emphasised time and again. I wonder how the Minister is going to address those issues. This needs to be taken on board. I am glad the Minister has acknowledged it is a problem but the figures the Minister has trotted out are not the solution to the problem. Even with increases, there is still a huge problem which we have to address in a timely manner in order to give fair play and equal opportunities to all of our children.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I do not know what the Deputy means if she is says resources are not the solution. We are investing €1.68 billion in services for children with special needs and it is an absolutely correct investment. We have expanded that massively. Even in the very difficult years when there was no money available, we continued to expand the number of resource teachers and SNAs. We protected resources and we expanded the school transport service for children with special needs, and we are seeing the results. We are seeing more children identified earlier, completing their programmes at first and second level and progressing to third level.

The system is working. The extra resources, which the Deputy says is just the trotting out of numbers, are real teachers. There are thousands of teachers going into our schools. We now have 13,000 resource teachers and 13,000 SNAs providing support to 49,000 children who are in these categories in one shape or another. This is a huge commitment of resources. It is unfair of the Deputy to suggest there is not a commitment here because there is a massive commitment and it is growing. Even this week, we announced a 7.5% increase in resources specifically for the groups about which the Deputy is expressing concern.