John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 902: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the limited support services available for autistic children in the Waterford and Tramore areas; her views on whether it is essential that autistic children receive such services on a sustained basis before they are five years old; if she will provide funding to ensure that dedicated ongoing services are provided to autistic children in Waterford city and county in the areas of psychological services, speech therapy and occupational therapy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14941/07]

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 and in this regard the following specialist education classes for children on the autistic spectrum have been established across the country:

188 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; in this regard my Department has established:

188 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 (ABA) specific methodologies on a pilot basis — 2 of these facilities have yet to be established.

I have requested that NEPS update me with regard to the level of psychological support available in the region referred to by the Deputy. As the Deputy will be aware, the provision of therapy services including speech therapy and occupational therapy is a matter for the Health Services Executive (HSE) and funding is provided to the HSE for such purposes.