Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 499: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress regarding the establishment of an autistic unit in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5 to cater for the primary school children currently attending another school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26515/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has been established as an independent statutory body with responsibilities as set out in the National Council for Special Education (Establishment) Order 2003.

Since 1 January 2005, the NCSE through local special educational needs organisers, SENOs, is responsible for processing resource applications for children with special educational needs.

Where a pupil with special educational needs enrols in a post-primary school, it is open to the school to apply to the local SENO for additional teaching support and-or special needs assistant support for the pupil.

My Department supports the education of individual students with autism in various second level schools throughout the country. The precise model of provision made available will depend on the assessed needs of the pupils involved. Some students are capable of attending ordinary classes on an integrated basis with additional teacher and-or special needs assistant support. In other cases, placement in special dedicated classes or units attached to the school may be the more appropriate response. Such special classes operate at significantly reduced pupil teacher ratios. Students attached to these special classes may be facilitated in attending ordinary subject classes on an integrated basis wherever possible. The organisation of such provision is a significant task of the National Council for Special Education.

Officials in my Department have been advised by the NCSE that the establishment of a special class for children with autism in the school in question is under consideration by the local SENO.