Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 593: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the degree to which she has received requests for the provision of special teaching facilities to meet the requirements of children with autism throughout north-west Kildare with particular reference to Derrinturn, Clogherinkoe, Johnstownbridge and adjoining areas; if she has fully examined and evaluated the ongoing and increasing educational needs of autistic children throughout County Kildare; if she will put in place adequate facilities to meet these requirements in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17645/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs and for establishing special classes for children with specific special needs, including autism.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the NCSE has recently sanctioned special classes for children with autism in north west Kildare including in schools in Derrinturn and Clogherince. This now brings the total number of autism specific classes sanctioned in Kildare to 21.

The NCSE will continue to open additional special classes as required. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 594: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to the provision of special needs teaching facilities at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; if full agreement has been reached in relation to the necessary staffing and other provisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17646/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to advise that the National Council for Special Education has sanctioned two special classes for autism in the school in question following the school's decision to open such classes.