Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the role special educational needs organisers have in checking or prioritising places for children in ABA units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32191/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) came into operation on 1st January 2005. One of the specific functions of the NCSE, through its network of local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is to identify appropriate educational placements for all children with special educational needs. The SENO is a focal point of contact for parents and schools.

My Department's preferred approach to the provision of appropriate education for children with autism, is through the primary and post primary school network, whether through placement in mainstream classes, in special classes or in special schools, a view that is supported by the findings of the Task Force Report on Autism. My Department also supports a multi skills approach in regard to the education of children with autism where a range of teaching methods are available including Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH), ABA (Applied Behavioural Analysis), Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS).

The SENO's role extends to ensuring that there is sufficient provision available within the primary and post primary sector for all children with special educational needs and they do not have a specific role in making provision available within ABA units. The matter of prioritising enrolments within these facilities is the responsibility of the individual Boards of Management.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason ABA units are still on a pilot basis; when she intends to change this status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32192/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, my Department's preferred approach to the provision of appropriate education for children with autism, is through the primary and post primary school network, whether through placement in mainstream classes, in special classes or in special schools, a view that is supported by the findings of the Task Force Report on Autism. My Department supports a multi-skills approach in regard to the education of children with autism where a range of teaching methods are available e.g. Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH), ABA (Applied Behavioural Analysis), Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS).

The issue of pilot status for the ABA units is being considered within this context.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she expects to receive the review being carried out by the special education section of her Department on the proposal that parents who receive grants for home tuition for an autistic child can no longer employ specialists who are not qualified primary teachers; if she will take into account the developmental nature of the work involved and the relevance of other forms of education and training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32193/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to provide education at home for children who, for a variety of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for pupils awaiting a suitable educational placement.

As the tuition takes place outside of the school supervision, the Deputy will appreciate the need to ensure that tuition providers are appropriately qualified to give education to the children concerned. The usual requirement is a fully qualified teacher. However other qualifications are acceptable depending on the individual needs of the child.

Nominated tuition providers with qualifications other than teaching qualifications have been accepted for the first school term this year to allow time to establish the suitability of the range of qualifications submitted. As the process progresses the parents concerned will be informed of the decision which will result in approval for subsequent terms of the nominated tuition provider or direction to recruit a tuition provider with suitable qualifications. It is important to stress that the allocation of tuition hours under the scheme is not at issue in the context of the review of qualifications in this regard.