Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 849: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide a specialist teacher for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10062/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is of the view 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.

I am aware of the circumstances of the person to whom the Deputy refers and have been advised that an appropriate school placement is available with access to qualified teachers should they avail of this placement.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 850: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children assessed with autism or autistic tendencies in County Mayo to date; the estimated number on waiting lists for assessment; the scale of service available to children so assessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10063/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Special Education is currently compiling a database of all children with special educational needs, including autism. Information regarding the number of children assessed with autism in any location or estimated numbers on waiting lists is not available within my Department. However, the Task Force on Autism (2001) considered a national prevalence rate of 56 per 10,000 (20 per 10,000 for Autistic Disorder and 36 per 10,000 for Asperger's Syndrome).

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 851: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has received an application for an autistic unit for County Mayo from concerned parents; if she will give approval and funding for such unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10064/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has received this application and has requested that the names and the psychological assessments of the children proposing to attend the centre be forwarded to the Department in order to consider the application further. My Department is currently awaiting this information.

The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, receive an education appropriate to their needs, preferably through the primary and post-primary school network. In this regard my Department has established: 182 Special Classes for children with autism, attached to special and mainstream schools, 7 of which are in the Mayo area; 5 special Classes for children with Asperger's Syndrome; 18 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 (2 of these facilities have yet to be established).