Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 315: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to parliamentary Question No. 214 of 22 May 2008, the details of the training programme for teachers in autism specific interventions including TEACCH, PECS and ABA through the Special Education Support Service; the number of teachers who have undertaken the programme to date; the qualifications criteria for the trainers of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21767/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The SESS provides a dedicated support team of expert teachers delivering a range of supports to schools through seminar delivery and individual school visits. In 2007, 5521 training places were funded by the SESS to enable teachers access a range of autism training. This training encompassed a variety of interventions and courses in the area of Autism including inter alia:

Applied Behaviour Analysis

TEACCH

PECS

Social Stories

Management of Challenging behaviour

Sensory integration

Pivotal response training

Online courses in Autism and Applied behaviour analysis

Floor Time

Hannen training

PEP 3

Lámh

From the 08/09 academic year, teachers may also avail of a programme of accreditation for courses undertaken in the area of ASD. This programme, offered by, St Angela's College, Sligo is a Post-Graduate Certificate/Diploma Programme in the area of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), in collaboration with the Special Education Support Service (SESS). The programme is accredited by NUI, Galway. This programme is being made available on a modular basis specifically for teachers of pupils with ASDs. The aim of the programme will be to develop teachers' knowledge, understanding and skills in working with pupils with ASDs.

In terms of qualification criteria for trainers in these programmes, all trainers involved in delivering continuing professional development through the Special Education Support Service are required to have relevant qualifications, expertise, experience, knowledge and skills in the specific areas in which they are delivering CPD. These are determined on an individual basis with reference to the specific CPD programme that is being delivered. The SESS is concerned to ensure that all of the CPD which it supports is of a high quality and impacts positively on developing teachers' knowledge, skills and expertise in meeting the needs of all pupils with special educational needs. To this end, the SESS consistently reviews and monitors the quality of all of its programmes of CPD. In addition, all SESS CPD is evaluated by participants in order to assess its benefits as they relate to the learning and teaching of all pupils with special educational needs.

In addition, my Department provides accredited post-graduate courses, which are available annually. Some 475 places are available annually on these courses. It is a central feature of all these courses that teachers are given the necessary skills and expertise to meet the needs of students with ASD and special educational needs in general.