Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 394: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are waiting lists for children in the autistic spectrum seeking admission to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5; if she has plans to expand the services to meet the needs. [17810/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for the establishment of special classes for autism and for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE will continue to establish additional autism classes where the need arises in both special schools and mainstream schools. 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. I have arranged for the details supplied by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

The Deputy may also be aware that my Department's home tuition scheme provides funding to parents for early educational intervention for pre-school children with autism where a school-based placement is not available. I have arranged for an application form to issue to the parents of this child at the address supplied by the Deputy.