Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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187. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to review her Department's approach to applied behaviour analysis schooling; her plans to remove the board certified behaviour analysts employed as directors of education from the former applied behaviour analysis pilot schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18915/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department supports the use of Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) and training is provided for teachers in its use. The use of ABA as part of the range of interventions is particularly useful for addressing behavioural issues.

The NCSE is at an advanced stage in preparing policy advice on the education of children with autism, which will incorporate a review of literature on the effectiveness of the range of evidence-based practices and interventions for the education of children with autism.I expect that the final report, which is to be delivered shortly, will consider the broadest possible range of views and provide recommendations which will assist the development of policy for future years.

As the Deputy is aware my Department previously funded a number of centres through an ABA pilot scheme. All of the centres which participated in the scheme have been granted recognition as special schools for children with autism and operate in line with my Department's policy. My Department has committed to provide funding to the schools to facilitate the cost of employing the behavioural analysts in question until 2017. I have no plans to remove them in the interim.