Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 38: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of mainstream schools currently equipped with special units to cater for children with autism or other special needs; the degree to which the necessary staffing levels have been achieved to operate these units effectively and efficiently and in accordance with the guidelines laid down; if he has received submissions from school authorities setting out further requirements in this regard; the extent to which he has responded or will respond, positively or otherwise in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26686/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy is 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. 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. I have arranged for the information requested by the Deputy to be forwarded to him directly.

The pupil teacher ratio appropriate to classes for children with autism is one teacher for each class where up to six children can be enrolled. A minimum of two Special Needs Assistants are also allocated per class of six pupils.

An initiative in November 2006 expanded the level of administrative support available to large schools and schools with high numbers of special classes or a specialist autism unit. The measures included the allocation of additional teachers to allow deputy principals in mainstream schools that, in addition to their ordinary mainstream class teachers, also have five or more special classes for children with the more complex, low incidence, special needs, to operate as administrative deputy principals. Also where a school has a principal and four or five mainstream class teachers also has a specialist autism unit established under approval of NCSE, the principal will be appointed on an administrative basis.

My Department interacts on a regular basis with organisations representative of schools and submissions from school authorities including the one referred to by the Deputy are taken into consideration in the context of future policy decisions.