Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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184. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether his Department has previously declined or ignored invitations from the Psychological Society of Ireland's division of behaviour analysis to meet or offer assistance to his Department regarding its policy on applied behaviour analysis and autism education; and if he will provide his Department's reasons for declining or ignoring these offers. [19162/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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There is no record in my Department of a request from the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) for a meeting on policy issues.

As the Deputy is aware the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is currently preparing Policy Advice on the Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The NCSE has advised my Department that the Policy Advice will be delivered in the spring of 2015 and will draw upon findings gathered from an extensive consultation process which has already commenced.

It is open to all interested parties to contribute to the consultation process and I would encourage the PSI will engage with the NCSE in this context. I expect that the NCSE final report will reflect the broadest possible range of views and provide recommendations which will assist the development of policy for future years.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that the Psychological Society of Ireland's division of behaviour analysis has not been consulted as part of the current NCSE review of educational provision for children with autism; and if his Department provided any suggestions to the NCSE regarding potential stakeholders who might be consulted. [19163/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy is aware the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is currently preparing Policy Advice on the Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders using terms of reference provided by my Department. I specifically asked that they would consult widely with parents, professionals, other stakeholders and interested parties in the preparation of this advice but I did not provide any suggestions as to potential stakeholders who should be consulted in this context.

I am aware that the consultation process has commenced. However I am not aware of the stakeholders who have been consulted in this regard. Therefore I have arranged for the question to be forwarded to the NCSE for their direct attention and reply.