Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 589: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the waiting lists for special needs schools, both primary and secondary level, in Dublin. [6524/06]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 591: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when children on the waiting lists for special schools can be expected to progress up those waiting lists. [6526/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 589 and 591 together.

I wish to advise that the information requested by the Deputy in relation to waiting lists for special schools is not available in my Department, nor would the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, have such information readily to hand. The progression of pupils on such waiting lists would depend on the individual schools concerned. Factors to be taken into account would be the numbers of pupils on the list and when and how many pupils may be leaving the school in any given year. Applications to establish additional provision in any of these schools, where appropriate, can be forwarded by the schools authorities to the local special educational needs organisers for consideration.

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 590: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the waiting lists for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16. [6525/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I take it that the Deputy is referring to the Saplings autism-specific facility, based in Rathfarnham, south Dublin, that has been established to cater for children on the autistic spectrum. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the waiting list at the facility is not available in my Department.

This facility is one of 12 autism-specific facilities that are operating on a pilot basis. Some of these facilities provide an applied behavioural analysis, ABA, model of response which is one of a range of models of approach to the education of children with autism.

My Department also provides the following dedicated facilities for the education of children with autism on a national basis: 159 special classes for children with autism attached to special schools and mainstream schools have been created; 15 preschool classes for children with autism have been established; five special classes for children with Asperger's syndrome have been established.

Furthermore, my Department sanctions home tuition grants for children with autism where such children are awaiting an appropriate school placement. As the Deputy is probably aware, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is now operational. A specific function of the NCSE, through its network of local special educational needs organisers, SENOs, is to identify appropriate educational placements for children with special educational needs, including children with autism. Parents also liaise directly with schools in the context of enrolling their children. The question of maintaining waiting lists is a matter for individual school managements and my Department would not hold such information.

I am confident that the steps that I have outlined, and those in hand, especially the establishment of the NCSE, will ensure that appropriate educational provision can be put in place for all children with special educational needs, including children with autism in a timely manner.