Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 359: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department will provide the extra resources needed which will allow a person (details supplied) to stay on in a special needs school when they reach 18 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28388/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that special schools funded by my Department are intended to cater for children and young persons with special educational needs from 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year. At that point, the Department of Health and Children/Health Service Executive assumes direct responsibility for young adults with special educational needs who are over 18 years. My Department, at that stage may allocate resources towards an education component of such provision.

It is expected that a school will have been liaising with the health authorities during the final year of a young person's attendance in school to ensure the young person's successful transition to adult services by the time s/he reaches age 18 or at the end of the school year following their 18th birthday.