Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 247: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science her views on the pilot school (details supplied); if her Department or an agency under her remit monitors the individual progress of children there; and if she will arrange to examine, report on and make recommendations on the case of a person. [13500/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The centre referred to by the Deputy is in the Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) pilot scheme funded by my Department which funds 13 stand-alone autism centres.

The Deputy will be aware of my commitment to ensuring that all children 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 who may draw from a range of autism-specific interventions, including ABA, special needs assistants, and the appropriate school curriculum with the option where possible of full/partial integration and interaction with other pupils.

As each child with autism is unique it is important that children have access to a range of interventions so their broader needs can be met. In this context local Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) can assist parents with regard to their child's special educational needs and placement options. While my Department promotes quality at system level through recognition of schools, investment in teacher education and whole school evaluation my Department does not monitor the progress of individual children. Supports for individual children are provided at school level as well as through agencies such as the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) and where appropriate through the National Educational Psychological Service.

If the parents in this case wish to obtain assistance from the relevant SENO they can access details from the NCSE's website www.ncse.ie.