Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 1592: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on expanding the ABA pilot scheme of 12 centres to accommodate other projects such as that proposed by a group (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1908/09]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 1616: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 491 of 7 October 2008, the progress made in finalising an agreement with a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2154/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1592 and 1616 together.

The Deputy will be aware of the Government's commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers, special needs assistants and the appropriate school curriculum.

The establishment of a network of autism-specific special classes in schools across the country to cater for children with autism has been a key educational priority in recent years. In excess of 345 classes have now been approved around the country at primary and post primary level, including many in special schools.

Children in these classes benefit from having fully-qualified teachers who have access to training in a range of autism-specific interventions, including Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA), the Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) and the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). These students have the option, where appropriate, of full/partial integration and interaction with other pupils. Funding is also provided for assistive technology and specialist equipment as required and special school transport arrangements may also be put in place.

My Department has put in place a training programme for teachers in autism-specific interventions including TEACCH, PECS and ABA through the Special Education Support Service. A recent initiative has been the expansion of this service to enable it to recruit a behavioural specialist support team, led by a person with a PhD in ABA.

My Department's ABA pilot scheme was established in the absence of this network of special classes in our schools. Now that a national network of special classes catering specifically for children with autism is available in schools, new centres will not be brought into the pilot programme.

Officials in my Department have met on a regular basis with the relevant groups in relation to the commitment in the current programme for Government to long-term funding for the centres that are in the ABA pilot scheme subject to agreement with my Department on standards that will enable them to be supported as primary schools for children with autism.

I am pleased to advise that broad agreement has been reached on the core conditions to enable the centres to be recognised as special schools for children with autism and discussions are ongoing in relation to existing contractual arrangements.