Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of ABBA schools awaiting sanction by her Department; when will she sanction the schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5002/07]

Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of ABBA schools awaiting sanction by her Department; the reason she has not sanctioned these schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5001/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 167 together.

There are currently 11 applications for ABA Stand Alone Facilities under consideration within my Department. The Deputies 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.

In this regard my Department has established:

181 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.