Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 521: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of special needs assistants employed in national schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27158/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The number of whole-time equivalent special need assistants currently employed in national schools and paid on my Department's payroll is 6,587.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 522: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of special units for children on the autistic spectrum in national schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27159/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with autism receive an education appropriate to their needs. In this regard my Department currently provides the following facilities for the education of children with autism: 162 Special Classes for children with autism, attached to special and mainstream schools; 15 pre-school classes; 5 Special classes for children with Asperger's Syndrome; and 12 Stand-Alone facilities providing an Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) specific methodology. Approval has also been given for the establishment of a further two such facilities.

The Deputy is aware that a specific function of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is to identify appropriate educational placements for all children with special educational needs, including children with autism. The NCSE, through the SENOs, will continue to develop and co-ordinate additional provision, where necessary.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 523: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will clarify her reference to 1,654 full-time equivalent additional teachers to support pupils at post-primary level with special needs in Parliamentary Question No. 468 of 23 May 2006; if this number refers to resource teachers only or if it includes general teachers who have some time allocated for special needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27160/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There are 1,654 whole-time equivalent teachers in place to support pupils with special educational needs at post-primary level.