Written answers

Thursday, 7 December 2006

Department of Education and Science

Special Educational Needs

7:00 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools housing specialist autistic units; if additional funding is granted to these schools for the operation of these units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42091/06]

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath will receive extra funding for an autistic unit which it hosts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42092/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 160 together.

As part of my Department's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders receive an education appropriate to their needs my Department has established:

178 Special Classes for children with autism, attached to special and mainstream schools,

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,

14 Stand Alone facilities providing an Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) specific methodology on a pilot basis, 2 of these facilities have yet to be established.

My Department provides significant additional funding for such special classes including a start-up grant of €6500 to cover the cost of furniture and general equipment; a further set-up grant of €635 to ensure suitable teaching materials are purchased for the class and schools may apply for funding for specialist equipment which may be required by individual pupils such as specialist desks or chairs. In addition, I recently announced a thirty per cent increase in the rates of capitation paid to all children attending autism specific classes. This brings the enhanced rate of capitation payable to €805 per pupil per annum enrolled in a special class for autism. The school in question will qualify for additional capitation funding under this initiative.

The Deputy will be aware that I have recently announced a new measure whereby the principal will be appointed in an administrative basis, if a school has a principal and four or five mainstream class teachers and also has a specialist autism unit catering for 12-18 pupils established under approval of the National Council for Special Education.

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