Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for raising the question and am delighted he made it back in time to the Chamber. It is always a pleasure to listen to him. In Connemara there is a very apt saying when one wishes to refer to a person who is a tremendous orator, namely, sheasfá sa sneachta ag éisteacht leis. One would stand in the snow listening to him. That is a very appropriate compliment to Senator Norris on his oratory and his ability to convey his point.

I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Mary Coughlan. I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the position regarding the staff employed under a pilot scheme funded by the Department who are due to take up employment in newly recognised special schools. The Senator will be aware of the Tánaiste's commitment to ensuring all children, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers who may draw from a range of autism-specific interventions, including ABA, special needs assistants, and the appropriate school curriculum.

There is now a nationwide network of autism-specific education places in place, with 420 special classes approved for children with autism. This network has been the culmination of much work, including the consideration of the available research, the task force report, advice from autism experts, the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, and the inspectorate on the provision of education for these children who have such individual needs.

In the absence of the current network of special classes that now exist in our schools, the Department provided funding for an ABA pilot scheme which funded a number of stand-alone autism units using the applied behaviour analysis methodology. The centre referred to by the Senator is being funded through this scheme. He will be aware that the 2007 programme for Government committed to the long-term funding for the centres in the ABA pilot scheme, subject to agreement with the Department on standards that will enable them to be supported as primary schools for children with autism. Agreement on transitional arrangements for the pilot centres was reached following a long process of discussions and engagement with the representative body of the pilot centres.

The Tánaiste is pleased to advise the Senator that earlier this year she was able to respond positively to applications for recognition as special schools from all the centres in the pilot scheme and they have now been granted recognition as special schools for children with autism. Managers have been appointed by the patrons to manage the transitional process from centre to special school. The new schools are recruiting principal teachers and the Tánaiste understands the school in question is due to interview for this position today. The appointment will facilitate the recruitment of five additional teaching staff in the coming weeks.

The Tánaiste wishes to clarify for the Senator that the staff currently employed as tutors and supervisors in the centre have been requested to indicate by today their preference with regard to employment in the new school. They have also been offered a voluntary redundancy package. However, it may be the new year before the teaching staff are in place and, therefore, the current staffing and reporting arrangements will pertain in the interim. As part of the transition process, the Department is arranging for training in a range of autism-specific interventions for the new principals and teachers once they have been appointed. In addition, training has been provided for the managers and the new boards of management. It is the Tánaiste's intention to continue to support the transitional process. Departmental officials will continue to liaise with the school to ensure there are adequate staffing levels in place to ensure the children who are attending the school will receive appropriate educational provision.

The Tánaiste fully appreciates that change in any organisation can cause concern and anxiety. This is particularly true when the organisation is a centre catering for children with special educational needs. However, the Tánaiste understands each of the centres engaged with parents and staff before applying for special school status and will continue to update them on progress in this regard. I hope this clarifies the position for the Senator and thank him once again for raising the matter with me.