Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 855: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools throughout County Kildare which currently require special teaching facilities for children with autism; the number of applications for such facilities proposed, on hand or pending; her proposals to address these requirements in the near future having particular regard to the concerns of the parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21147/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for the establishment of special classes for autism and for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. At present, approximately 250 special classes for children with autism have been sanctioned by the NCSE. 74 of these have been approved in the past year alone. 22 classes have now been sanctioned in the Kildare area. The NCSE is in contact with schools all over the country with a view to opening additional classes where they are needed, including in Kildare.

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 856: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to the operation of the special autism unit at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare having particular regard to the outstanding contentious issues regarding its operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21148/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am concerned that this special class has not yet opened in the school in question. The school has recruited staff and training has been made available for the staff in question.

I understand that this class will now open at the beginning of November.