Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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549. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way the parents of children due to complete their primary education at the autistic unit in a school (details supplied) should progress, in respect of second level education, in view of the fact that they have been unable to secure places in adjoining schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8092/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that this Government is committed to ensuring that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.

Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational interventions, delivered by fully qualified professional teachers, with the support of special needs assistants and the appropriate school curriculum.

Young people with autism transitioning from primary school placements have a number of alternative options including mainstream placement in post primary school with support, placement in a special class in a mainstream school or placement in a special class in a special school.

The Deputy will also be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support students with Special Educational Needs including Autism. It is also the role of the NCSE to make appropriate arrangements to establish special classes in schools in various geographical areas as required.

SENOs engage with schools annually in order to plan for, and to open, new special classes each year in order to ensure there are sufficient special class placements available at primary and post primary school level to meet demand in a given area.

With regard to post primary placement options for children with autism in the area referred to by the Deputy, the NCSE is actively engaged with parents and schools in the area on the various options.