Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 687: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will support the provision of an ABA unit for autistic children in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27623/06]

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, preferably through the primary and post primary school network.

My Department supports an eclectic approach to the education of children with autism where a range of teaching methods can be applied specific to the needs of individual pupils. Provision in this regard in County Kerry includes pre-school/early intervention special classes for children with autism, special classes for children with autism attached to special and mainstream schools plus a range of supports for pupils with autism integrated in mainstream classes. No application has been made to my Department to establish an ABA unit for autistic pupils in County Kerry.