Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the options available from his Department or its agencies for preschools in respect of children with autism or autistic spectrum disorder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35307/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the vast majority of support for childcare, including pre-school education, is not provided by my Department, but is now provided by the Office of the Minister for Children under the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 which is the successor programme to the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme.

The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with autism, receive an education appropriate to their needs. There are now 35 early intervention classes for children with autism attached to mainstream schools that are funded by my Department.

Funding is also provided through the home tuition programme for children with autism aged from 2 1⁄2 years to 5 who are unable to access an early intervention class. A child aged 21⁄2 years of age is funded for ten hours per week for an early intervention home based programme. This increases to 20 hours per week once the child is 3 years of age.