Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 549: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children in the autistic spectrum who are being taught in the 12 pilot ABA schools; if she has carried out an assessment of these pilot schools to assess their success and the case for expanding the pilot scheme or mainstreaming it for children where the success of this approach is indicated in objective psychological assessments; and her plans for further assessment and development of this pilot programme. [11238/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that my Department's 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 supports a multi-skills approach in regard to the education of children with autism where a range of teaching methods are available e.g. Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH), ABA (Applied Behavioural Analysis), Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS).

The Deputy will also be familiar with the variety of current provision in this regard, which includes pre-school classes for children with autism, special classes for children with autism attached to special schools and mainstream schools, special classes for Asperger's syndrome plus a range of supports for pupils with autism integrated in mainstream classes. In addition my Department funds a pilot scheme for 12 centres where ABA is the exclusive approach. Sanction has been given for 14 centres under the scheme and two have yet to open. These units currently provide in the region of 240 places.

My Department's Inspectorate carried out an Evaluation of Educational Provision for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The report describes an evaluation of the education that is provided for children with ASD in a variety of settings nationwide. The elements of good practice identified during the evaluation process and in the literature review form the basis for the report's recommendations which will make a positive contribution to policy development and to the continuing improvement in the quality of education that is available to all children with ASD.

My Department is engaged in discussions with the Irish Autism Action support group concerning the current pilot programme.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 550: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the National Council for Special Education Needs and the officers who work under their direction have the authority to recommend that a pupil in the autistic spectrum would be provided with education under the ABA method, or if they are confined to recommending home tuition or other supplements to the eclectic method more generally applied by her Department for children in this spectrum; and her views on changing the arrangements in order that the council could develop a criteria for deciding when ABA might be the better method of education dependent on the needs presented by the individual child. [11239/07]

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 have greatest opportunity 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; 16 pre-school classes to facilitate the demand for early intervention provision for children on the autistic spectrum; and 14 standalone facilities providing an Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) specific methodology on a pilot basis — 2 of these facilities has yet to be established. The scheme is operated directly by my Department.

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 units or in special schools, a view that is supported by the findings of the Task Force Report on Autism. My Department supports a multi-skills approach in regard to the education of children with autism where a range of teaching methods are available e.g. Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH), ABA (Applied Behavioural Analysis), Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS).

The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was established under the Education for Persons with Special Needs Act (EPSEN) to improve the delivery of education services to persons with special educational needs arising from disabilities with particular emphasis on children. Since it was established in 2005 NCSE is responsible for allocating resources for children with special educational needs. The Council has a key role in the delivery of services and operates through a network of special educational needs organisers (SENOs) who act as a focal point of contact for schools and parents. As the current ABA pilot scheme is operated directly by my Department the SENO would have no involvement in this regard.

As provided for in the EPSEN Act, an education plan for each individual pupil (IEP) with special educational needs will become mandatory when the relevant sections of the Act are commenced. In preparation for this, the NCSE has drawn up guidelines on the IEP process and these guidelines were published on 20th June last. The guidelines present a checklist of the essential elements required for an IEP for a child with special education needs as envisaged by the EPSEN Act 2004. The analysis of each child's needs will lead to an IEP specifically designed and delivered for each individual child.

The IEP will be reviewed annually to build on the child's progress and to provide new educational goals to be attained during the following school year. Identifying appropriate teaching methodologies specific to the needs of the child concerned will form part of the IEP process.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 551: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her assessment of the effort made by parents at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 13 to establish a service under the ABA system based on funding from a combination of home tuition grants and individual contributions by parents; and her views on developing a range of additional supports to help this school progress. [11240/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's 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 supports a multi-skills approach in regard to the education of children with autism where a range of teaching methods are available e.g. Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH), ABA (Applied Behavioural Analysis), Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS).

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: 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; and 14 stand alone facilities providing an Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) specific methodologies on a pilot basis — 2 of these facilities have yet to be established.

An application received from the group referred to by the Deputy to participate in the pilot scheme, which has facilitated the establishment of a number of ABA-specific units nationwide, is under consideration by officials in my Department.