Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the guidelines in place to ensure that a child with autistic spectrum disorder can attend an ASD unit on a full time basis in view of the fact that this particular child currently attends an ASD unit for three hours a day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29088/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Department Circular 11/95 states that a full school day at primary level comprises a period of not less than five hours and forty minutes. Circular 11/95 and the Rules for National Schools also provide that pupils in infant classes may have a school day that is one hour shorter than the length of the normal school day, (i.e. 5 hours and forty minutes). It is a matter for the Board of Management of a particular school to decide whether this concession should be applied in the case of its school. If pupils in infant classes are being given a shorter day, their parents should be notified accordingly and invited to collect them at time of dismissal.

It is acknowledged that particular circumstances may arise whereby the implementation of the shorter day for pupils in infant classes may cause issues for some parents. Where this arises, my Department would encourage school authorities to engage with parents locally with a view to arriving at a mutually acceptable resolution. As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENO) for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. 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.