Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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335. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a liaison person from her Department on an issue in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36967/15]

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 open such new special classes where necessary.

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 is 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.

My officials have been advised by the NCSE that there are currently 5 ASD special classes at post primary level in Co. Kerry. 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 atwww.ncse.ie.

The NCSE are available to liaise with local schools in the context of the establishment of special class provision in Co Kerry.