Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 303: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when it is proposed to open the special unit for children which is part of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; if her attention has been drawn to the significant number of children with autism and related special needs urgently in need of places in such a facility in the Dublin 15 area; the reason for the delays involved in opening the unit; if there are budgetary and staffing issues involved and if so what these are; the annual costs associated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17942/07]

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. Therefore, I share her interest in the opening of the autism unit to which she refers to facilitate the children concerned and ensure that they receive the supports they need to reach their potential.

However as the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education is responsible for establishing the unit and I have requested details from them in this regard to establish how to expedite the opening of the unit and I will arrange for her to be advised accordingly.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 304: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the position of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 who is urgently awaiting a place in the special unit at a school catering for children with autism and related special needs; if she will review the case of this child as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17943/07]

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. I have arranged for the details supplied by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

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.