Written answers

Wednesday, 30 September 2015

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Photo of Michelle MulherinMichelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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154. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of the educational supports available for children and young adults with autism and other learning difficulties in County Mayo; her plans for investment in tailor-made facilities to provide the necessary supports and early intervention in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33639/15]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The policy of my Department is that children with special educational needs, including children with autism, should be included, where possible and appropriate, in mainstream placements with additional supports provided. All State-funded primary and post primary schools have been allocated additional resources to provide for children with special educational needs enrolled in school. Primary and Post Primary schools have a permanent allocation of additional teaching supports to provide for children whose educational psychological assessment places them in the high incidence, or less complex, disability category. In circumstances where children with special educational need require more specialised interventions, special school or special class places are also available.

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. 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. 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.

Details of all of the special classes for children with special educational needs which are attached to mainstream schools are published each year on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie. In Co Mayo there are currently 10 classes for children with autism in primary schools, including 2 early intervention classes and there are a further 6 classes at post primary level. The NCSE will continue to monitor and review the requirement for special class places in particular areas and has capacity to open such new special classes including early intervention classes where necessary.

Home Tuition is provided to children with autism aged between 2½ and 3 years of age as they cannot enrol in a school until they reach the age of three. Parents can choose to enrol children with autism in an early intervention class from the age of three and where such a placement is not available home tuition can be provided. Children with autism over the age of four may also be eligible for home tuition if a school placement is not available for them. The annual circular for the 2015/2016 Home Tuition Scheme (0038/2015) is available on www.education.ie

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