Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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178. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 247 of 15 April 2014 if he will provide details of the person who specifically gave him the advice that enabled him to be satisfied regarding the way applied behaviour analysis is currently being implemented and operated in over 500 autism spectrum disorder units; if he will provide a copy of that written advice or, in the absence of providing this documentation with his reply, if it can be assumed that he has received no written advice on this specific issue over the past three years and that no documentation exists to support his views on this issue. [19154/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I wish to again clarify for the Deputy, as outlined in the response to the parliamentary question to which he refers, that under the Teaching Council Act 2001, the Teaching Council is the body with statutory regulatory authority for the professional registration of teachers. The Council sets standards of entry to the profession and accredits initial teacher education programmes. I am satisfied that primary teachers are qualified to teach in a wide range of school environments including autism units.

I added that the Special Education Support Service (SESS) provides evidence based support for teachers of pupils across a wide range of special educational needs including ASD having regard to best practice and that I am satisfied that the SESS are making appropriate provision to support teachers and schools in this area. The Deputy will be aware that my Department's inspectorate has a role in evaluating, advising and supporting all schools including those with autism classes.

I reminded the Deputy previously that the SESS is a support service for teachers and is not involved in the supervision of the implementation of ABA.

Finally, in previous responses there was no reference to specific written or oral advice on this matter. It can not be assumed that no documentation exists on this issue. If the Deputy is seeking sight of a specific document, he should identify the document in question.