David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 106: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of children currently enrolled in autism spectrum disorder special schools and the average unit cost per child per annum to the State in special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2074/11]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is committed to ensuring that all children including those with special needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers, special needs assistants and the appropriate school curriculum with the option, in line with each child's ability, of full/partial integration and interaction with other pupils. The cost of provision derives from a combination of factors and my Department focuses on delivering supports to schools to enable the schools provide an appropriate education to all children enrolled. The level of teacher posts, special needs assistant posts etc varies in line with the type of special educational need supported in each school. Different rates of capitation funding apply. Transport costs may vary depending on the location of the school. Other contributing factors would include the cost of continuous professional development or new school buildings and so on. Accordingly, it is not possible to calculate a single per unit cost that reflects the level of investment in special schools generally.

However, in general, over €1 billion was allocated in supporting special educational provision last year. There are now in excess of 20,000 adults in our schools working solely with pupils with special needs. This includes over 10,000 special needs assistants; over 9,000 resource and learning support teachers employed in mainstream schools; over 500 teachers in special classes and over 1,100 special school teachers. I have arranged for officials in my Department to forward directly to the Deputy the number of children currently enrolled in special schools for children with autism.