Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the proposals regarding an autism unit at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; the arrangements in place to secure therapeutic and clinical support for the unit; the provisions and resources in place regarding staffing and fitting the unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7859/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy 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 and 14 Stand Alone facilities providing an Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) specific methodology on a pilot basis. Two of these facilities have yet to be established.

The Deputy may be aware that a building project to provide new accommodation at the school is nearing completion and I understand that it will be ready for occupation in the coming months. I understand that there is provision for an autism unit within the new accommodation. My officials wrote to the school principal on 16 February 2007 indicating the range of supports available to schools from my Department to support autism units. These include a special class for autism typically established with an initial staff of one teacher and two special needs assistants (SNAs) for every six pupils and additional SNA support may be provided on the basis of the assessed needs of individual pupils.

As a further support, many smaller schools where autism units are approved by the National Council for Special Education can now have an administrative principal to assist with the establishment and running of specialist intervention locally. In addition, enhanced levels of capitation are available to special schools and mainstream schools with special classes.

Additional training supports for staff engaged in the education provision for children with 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.

Other supports include assistive technology grants where this is recommended and specialist equipment such as modified desks and chairs as required.

As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is now operational. A specific function of the NCSE, through its network of local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is to identify appropriate educational placement for all children with special educational needs. The SENO is a focal point of contact for parents and schools. It is open to a parent to contact the SENO directly regarding their child's needs. Contact details for the SENO may be accessed on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.

The provision of therapeutic and clinical support for the autism unit is a matter for the Health Services Executive (HSE) and funding is provided to the HSE for such purposes.