Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on setting up research groups or task forces to carry out research on best practice and the latest developments in the teaching of autistic children in Europe and the USA; if she will invite representation onto these research groups from ABA groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10390/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's policy on educating children with autism is an inclusive policy of all autism specific interventions including TEACCH, PECs and Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) to ensure that each child can draw down from a number of different approaches to ensure the optimum individualised educational programme for him/her. It draws on the strengths of teachers who are trained in educating and developing children generally and who are given additional training in autism-specific approaches. It ensures that children with autism have the best opportunity to be either partially or fully integrated into mainstream settings and be educated in the community along with their siblings, while at the same time offering autism-specific individual programmes and supports for each child. Educational intervention for children with ASD needs to be child-centred and individual — tailored to meet the needs of each child — rather than matching the needs of a child to one particular version of one intervention.

The Department's approach and policy is based on advice received from international experts on autism; NEPS; the Inspectorate; an analysis of research including that supplied by the IAA; and the report of the Irish Task Force on Autism. Advice was sought from international experts on research provided by the Irish Autism Action group and other research on educational interventions for children with autistic spectrum disorders and it is clear that this research does not support the exclusive usage of ABA or indeed the exclusive use of any other approach, as a basis for national educational provision for ASD children. It is for this reason that the Department's preferred policy is for a child centred approach where the approach to be taken is based on the individual child's needs. It is also important to bear in mind that school-based provision is being put in place throughout the country that will be in a position to provide for future cohorts of children and respond to their individual needs.

My Department remains willing to review and consider any further research as and when it becomes available. I have no immediate plans to set up research groups or task forces to carry out research as described by the Deputy.