Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1588: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the most up to date information her Department has in relation to the prevalence of autistic spectrum disorders here; and if she will proactively support an all-Ireland study of island wide prevalence of ASDs. [1728/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The recommendations of the Task Force on Autism suggest that for planning purposes my Department should assume a prevalence rate of 56 children in 10,000 have Autistic Spectrum Disorders which equates to 1 in 178 children. This is not dissimilar to the prevalence rate in the United States which is 1 in 166 children.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department and the Department of Education in Northern Ireland are jointly engaged in the development of the Middletown Autism Centre in County Armagh. The Centre of Excellence will be dedicated to improving and enriching the educational opportunities of children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. One of the key services to be provided by the Centre is an autism research and information service.

The training research and information service division will establish links throughout Ireland with appropriate bodies in the area of autism. This division will provide a forum for the discussion of relevant research findings and a platform for national and international experts in the field of autism. I am confident that the Centre of Excellence with its proposed local and regional links will enhance services for pupils with autism throughout Ireland.

The Deputy will also be aware that the functions of the National Council for Special Education include conducting and commissioning research on matters relevant to the functions of the Council and, as it considers appropriate, to publish in such form and manner as the Council thinks fit the findings arising out of such research.