Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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286. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way a student (details supplied) in County Kildare can gain access to an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, unit in a second level school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23096/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that the establishment of a network of autism-specific special classes in schools across the country to cater for children with autism has been a key educational priority in recent years.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.

The NCSE is currently planning, through its local network of SENOS, for special class settings for children who cannot be educated in a mainstream class setting but who can still attend their local school in a special class with a lower pupil–teacher ratio. SENOs have been working with local schools on a national basis over the past number of months to plan and establish special classes for children with SEN who require such placements for 2014/2015.

I referred your query to the NCSE with particular reference to the establishment of places for the coming school year. I am informed that the local SENOs and the Senior SENO for the area have been in contact with the parents of the child in question. The NCSE has been engaging with the post primary schools in Kildare and Newbridge regarding opening ASD classes. This work is ongoing in Kildare and SENOs continue to liaise and work with schools in order to meet the demand for such placements at local level.

Kildare Town Community School is a new school that arose from an amalgamation of three post Primary schools in the locality. This school has a Special Needs Unit incorporated into the build which provides dedicated space for 2 ASD classes. One class has been established and it was part of local planning by SENOs that the second class would open to meet identified demand. Discussions are ongoing at present with the school in relation to opening the second class.

The need for further special provision at post primary level for 2015 and onwards is being kept under review.

Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
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288. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the availability of special needs assistant at a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23120/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including the allocation of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of Special Education supports and the staffing resources available to my Department.

The NCSE allocates a quantum of SNA support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support. Where children have significant care needs whereby they may need additional support to be able to attend school, the NCSE may make an allocation of SNA support to the school to assist that child.

The deployment of SNAs within schools is then a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.

The NCSE has invited schools to make applications for SNA support for children who have assessed care needs for the coming 2014/15 school year by 26th March 2014, for their consideration. Details of the NCSE application criteria are available at www.ncse.ie.

Although the date for applications has passed, if the school wish to make an application for SNA support for the child referred to by the Deputy, and have not done so to date, they should still submit an application for SNA support to the NCSE and this will be considered by the NCSE.

The NCSE intend to advise all schools of their SNA allocations for the coming school year before the end of the current school year.

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.