Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 496: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if representatives from her Department can meet with a unit (details supplied) in County Wexford to discuss the concerns regarding the review of the unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16596/07]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 541: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has received representations dated 5 June 2007 from a group (details supplied) in County Wexford in relation to its concerns regarding a proposed reduction in special needs assistance for their children; if she will ensure, in relation to this autistic unit, that no child's current educational programme is changed without a professional educational psychological assessment performed by a psychologist with autism specific experience, that a fair and independent review of the special education needs of each child is carried out before reviewing the level of special needs assistant support and that the National Council for Special Education be central to any such review as the body responsible under legislation for assessing the level of education needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17109/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 496 and 541 together.

I am pleased to be given the opportunity to clarify for the Deputies the issues in question. 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 teachers may draw down from a range of autism specific interventions including Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH), ABA (Applied Behavioural Analysis), Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS).

A third class for pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) was sanctioned by my Department in the school referred to by the Deputies in October 2006. The sanction was subject to the school adopting a multi-skills approach to the provision of support for the pupils in all three ASD classes. The report on a recent review of these classes by my Department's Inspectorate will form the basis for further discussion with the Board of Management of the school, the National Council Special Education (NCSE), the Special Education Support Service (SESS) and officials in my Department with the focus on ensuring provision of a child centred approach to the education of the pupils concerned. A meeting with the school Board of Management is scheduled for the autumn.

I acknowledge receipt of the associated correspondence referred to by the Deputy and a reply will issue in the coming days.