Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 355: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the special school to be operating in Patrickswell, County Limerick to deal with children with autism; when this school will be in a position to enroll students; the assessment process for gaining a place in this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34698/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school in question opened in September 2008 and has begun enrolling children on a phased basis. Parents should contact the school authorities directly in relation to enrolment protocols. Assessment services in relation to health services are available through the local Health Service Executive office.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on a situation at a school (details supplied) in County Limerick; and when a teacher with special training for autism will be placed in this school. [34699/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the Education Act, 1998, the Board of Management of a primary school is responsible for the recruitment, selection and appointment of all teachers to a school. The procedures for the appointment of teachers are set out in Appendix D of the publication "Boards of Management Constitution of Boards and Rules of Procedure (revised November, 2007)", copies of which are available in all primary schools to the Board of management members and is also on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

Boards of Management are obliged to recruit and employ fully qualified primary teachers for any vacancy in a school, regardless of the duration of the vacancy. Where a teacher requires continuing professional development and/or support, the school should contact the Special Education Support Service (SESS) which is the service that is in a position to provide such assistance. Such training is provided on foot of a request from the school for support. The SESS provides a dedicated support team of expert teachers delivering a range of supports to schools through seminar delivery and individual school visits. This training encompasses 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

On-line courses in Autism and Applied behaviour analysis

Floor Time

Hanen 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 Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This programme, offered by St Angela's College, Sligo is a Post-Graduate Certificate/Diploma Programme in the area of ASDs, in collaboration with the SESS.

I understand that the school in question has recruited a teacher for the autism class who is qualified to work in the class in accordance with my Department's guidelines. The school has been in contact with the SESS in relation to obtaining training for the teacher and I understand that training is scheduled for this month.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 357: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide a remedial teacher for a child (details supplied) in County Longford who has been diagnosed with autism at the school in which they have been a pupil for the past two and a half years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34701/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have arranged for the details supplied to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.