Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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150. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the delivery of a much needed autism spectrum disorder unit for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36782/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that 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.

The NCSE will continue to monitor and review the requirement for special class places in particular areas and has capacity to establish such new special classes where necessary subject to the willingness of schools to open classes.

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.

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. In circumstances where children with special educational need require more specialised interventions, special school or special class places are also available.

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 may be approved. Children with autism over the age of four may also be eligible for home tuition if a school placement is not available for them.

I have arranged for the Deputy's request for specific detail on the school referred to, to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply. The NCSE is aware of a growing need for autism provision at post primary level in the area and is actively liaising with schools in this context.

My Department has approved devolved funding for the provision of 5 mainstream classrooms and a Special Needs Unit at the school referred to by the Deputy.

In September 2015 the school applied for additional funding to provide this accommodation. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that an increased allocation has been made and the school has been informed of the details.

It is now a matter for the Board of Management of the School to proceed with the delivery of the project.