Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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456. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which second level educational needs will be met in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has grown out of primary level education but has had no access to secondary level education for the past one and a half years, and who has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, a moderate intellectual disability, has no speech and is in danger of being excluded from a secondary level education; if this case will be re-examined with a view to meeting this person's requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17321/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's policies focus on ensuring that all children can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.

A range of placement options for pupils with special educational needs is provided, in order to ensure that all pupils can receive a school placement. Many pupils with special educational needs will be able to attend a local mainstream school, whereas for pupils who have needs which require more specialist interventions, special class and special school placements are provided for.

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.

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. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents are encouraged to liaise with the local SENO to discuss placement options for their child.

I can advise the Deputy that the local SENO is actively engaged with the parent of the child in question with a view to securing a school placement. In the interim, 20 hours home tuition per week has been approved for the child pending a placement being secured.