Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to an application by a group (details supplied) for her Department to establish a dedicated school in County Mayo to help to create a future for children in Mayo with autistic spectrum disorders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40109/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department considers that children with autism, in common with all children should have access to appropriate provision delivered by suitably qualified teachers within the school system where children can mix with their wider peer group and have maximum opportunities for integration. The 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's ongoing commitment is to ensuring that all children, including those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, receive an education appropriate to their needs and in this regard my Department has established:

175 Special Classes for children with autism, attached to special and mainstream schools, 6 of which are located in the Mayo area;

5 special Classes for children with Asperger's Syndrome;

16 pre-school classes to facilitate the demand for early intervention provision for children on the autistic spectrum;

12 Stand Alone facilities providing an Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) specific methodology on a pilot basis; and

Approval has also been given for the establishment of a further two such facilities.

Additional training supports for staff engaged in the education provision for children with special needs including autism can be accessed through the Special Education Support Service (SESS). The service will, as appropriate, consolidate, co-ordinate, develop and deliver a range of professional development initiatives and support structures to the relevant staff.

An application was recently received from the group in question to participate in the pilot scheme which has facilitated the establishment of the ABA-specific autism units nationwide. My officials requested that the names and the psychological assessments of the children proposing to attend the centre should be forwarded to the Department in order to progress the application further. My Department is currently awaiting this information.