Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide ABA in-service training for special needs teachers in mainstream schools; her views on whether there are many children in the autism spectrum that can not be adequately educated in a mainstream school; and her proposals to provide the special education needed outside the catchment area of the existing 12 ABA schools. [5058/08]

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. In relation to specific provision for children with autism, my Department considers that as each child with autism is unique, they should have access to a range of different approaches to meet their individual needs. Appropriate placement options include enrolment in mainstream school, with or without support, enrolment in a special autism class attached to a mainstream school or in an autism class attached to a special school.

In terms of autism provision across the country, my Department will continue to work to ensure that all children can have access to a broad programme, with provision for particular methodologies as appropriate, in special classes. In excess of 277 autism-specific classes have now been approved around the country, while more are being set up all the time. The National Council for Special Education will continue to expand the number of such classes as necessary to meet demand.

Children with autism in special classes have the benefit of fully-qualified teachers who are trained in educating and developing children generally and who have access to additional training in autism-specific approaches, including ABA, TEACCH and PECS. The level of such training available to teachers has improved dramatically in recent years and is a major priority for the Government. Children in special classes attached to mainstream schools also have the option, where possible and appropriate, of full or partial integration into mainstream classes and of interaction with other pupils.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy of the significant level of training provided for teachers via the Special Education Support Service established by my Department in a variety of fields in relation to Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The approaches include Language and Communication Approaches, Managing Inclusion, Curriculum Access for Pupils with General Learning Disabilities and Autism, Sensory Integration, PECS, TEACCH, Social Stories, and Applied Behavioural Analysis.

In terms of Applied Behavioural Analysis, a variety of courses were provided in 2007, such as:

Contemporary Applied Behaviour Analysis (10-week course)

Applied Behaviour Analysis (2-day)

Applied Behaviour Analysis (Online (ICEPE))

The first two courses above were delivered by the Specialist Behaviour team appointed by my Department in 2007. This team, which is headed by a person with a PhD in ABA, will be expanded in 2008 and will continue to consolidate teachers' knowledge and skills in the application of behavioural principles to learning. In addition my Department provides funding for ABA consultancy to schools.

Training in strategies of Applied Behaviour Analysis is also provided as part of the Department funded Combined Post-Graduate Diploma Programme of Continuous Professional Development for Teachers involved in Learning Support and Special Education. Seven colleges throughout the country provide this course which includes consideration of the application of behavioural principles to learning and familiarise teachers with the use of these principles. 300 places are provided on these courses.

As well as the above mentioned Diploma, my Department's Teacher Education Section also fund a Certificate in Autistic Spectrum Disorder for teachers and an online Diploma course delivered jointly by the Institute of Child Education and Psychology, Europe (ICEPE) and the St Patrick's College, Drumcondra. The course content of the Certificate Programme for Autistic Spectrum Disorders in St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra provides teachers with training in all evidence-based approaches to meeting the needs of children with autism including Applied Behaviour Analysis. The course provides 18 places per year for teachers. My Department previously funded 75 teachers to take a distance education programme in Autism of the University of Birmingham. The Online programme provided by the Institute of Child Education and Psychology, Europe (ICEPE) and the St Patrick's College, Drumcondra is currently rolling out modules and will provide a dedicated module in Applied Behaviour Analysis from 2009. This course will provide 150 places when it is rolled out in full.