Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 374: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will make a statement on a matter (details supplied). [8088/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that students enrolled in special schools graduate at the end of a school year rather than on their 18th birthday. In the case of the young man in question, this means that he would leave the school at the end of the school year during which he turns 18.

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.