Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 135: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the criteria for invitation to the one day conference, Education through the Spectrum, to be held in Croke Park on 15 April 2008; and if she will confirm whether members of boards of management of schools with autism classes will be invited to attend. [13691/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy will be aware that my Department works closely with the Education Partners including the various management bodies which represent school boards of management.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that invitations have been issued to these management bodies for distribution by them to their members. The remaining invitations were issued to other education partners, educational professionals and various autism organisations representing parents of children with autism. The Department of Education, Northern Ireland also distributed invitations to interested parties in Northern Ireland.

This conference is being jointly hosted by my Department and the Department of Education, Northern Ireland and aims to provide parents and professionals, north and south, with an opportunity to hear internationally acclaimed speakers address aspects of autism education.