Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of reports from psychologists and other professionals in the allocation of support services for children with special learning needs; if a special educational needs organiser can overrule a professional's statement on a child's needs and decide to withhold part or all of the support recommended by the professional report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10703/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local special educational needs organiser (SENO), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs (SEN) supports such as resource teaching and special needs assistant (SNA) support. The teaching and SNA support allocated are intended to enable schools to meet the needs of pupils as outlined in psychological and other reports.

The NCSE requires the submission of relevant reports from psychologists and other professionals with applications for SEN resources. My Department's Circular SP ED 02/05 lists the low-incidence disability categories that require the submission of supporting professional reports. The Circular also specifies the eligibility criteria used by the NCSE in respect of these disabilities. Evidence to show that this criteria has been met must be included in the professional's report to enable the granting of the appropriate level of support. The requisite levels of support that may be sanctioned in respect of each low-incidence disability are also outlined in Circular SP ED 02/05.

In allocating additional teaching and SNA supports in respect of individual pupils, SENOs examine the level of teaching and other resources available to these pupils within their school. The SENO operates within the parameters of my Department's criteria for the allocation of such resources. These criteria are set out in my Department's circulars having regard to the recommendations of the Report of the Special Education Review Committee, 1993, also known as the SERC Report.

Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of ABBA schools awaiting sanction by her Department; the reason she has not sanctioned the schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10791/07]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of ABA schools awaiting sanction by her Department; when she will sanction the schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10792/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 69 together.

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 have greatest opportunity to mix with their wider peer group and have maximum opportunities for integration. My Department's ongoing commitment is to ensuring that all children, including those with autistic spectrum disorders, receive an education appropriate to their needs.

In this regard my Department has established:

182 special classes for children with autism, attached to special and mainstream schools.

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.

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

There are currently 11 applications for inclusion in the ABA pilot scheme under active consideration in my Department.