Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 513: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she supports the establishment of a special class within a mainstream secondary school (details supplied) which it is intended will serve the needs of six students on the autistic spectrum; the official policy of her Department regarding the establishment of such special classes within mainstream schools; the resources which her Department will provide for mainstream schools attempting to establish a special class; the role the NCSE plays in the establishment of such classes within mainstream schools; the resources which the NCSE is authorised to provide for such special classes within mainstream schools; the official policy guidelines that the NCSE has been given by her Department regarding the establishment of such special classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26802/05]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 514: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department will provide funding for two permanent special needs teaching posts to a secondary school (details supplied) that is willing to establish a special class for six students on the autistic spectrum provided that adequate resources are made available to them; if she will provide such funding and the basis for her decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26803/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 513 and 514 together.

The Deputy will be aware that with effect from 1 January 2005, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has taken over responsibility for processing resource applications for children with disabilities who have special educational needs. These responsibilities include the following: deciding on applications for additional teaching support in respect of children with disabilities with special educational needs at second level; deciding on applications for special needs assistant, SNA, hours; and processing applications for school placement in respect of children with disabilities with special educational needs.

The National Council for Special Education allocates additional teaching and other resources in accordance with my Department's resourcing policies to support the special educational needs of children with disabilities. Under the new arrangements, the council, through the local special educational needs organiser, SENO, will process the relevant application for resources and inform the school of the outcome. It is important to note that in the case of decisions on additional teaching and SNA support, the SENO will outline the process to the school and parents, where appropriate, and will at the end of the process outline the basis on which the decision was made.

My Department supports the education of individual students with autism in various second level schools. 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. In general, where a special class for pupils with autism is established by my Department, such classes are staffed by one teacher and two special needs assistants and can cater for a maximum of six pupils. However, my Department provides for a flexible approach to applying these standard ratios to allow for individual school and pupil factors to be taken into account. Students attached to these special classes may be facilitated in attending ordinary subject classes on an integrated basis wherever possible.

Where a school wishes to establish a special class in order to meet the special educational needs of children with disabilities, an application must be submitted to the relevant SENO. In this regard, it is my Department's understanding that the school in question is in the process of submitting an application to the SENO for the establishment of such a class for pupils with autism. When this is received, it will then be considered.