Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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517. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the lack of facilities for teenagers on the autism spectrum disorder (details supplied) in Killarney in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40231/15]

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

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 and parents are encouraged to liaise with the local SENO to discuss placement options for their child.

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

There are currently 5 ASD special classes at post primary level in Co. Kerry. Each special class for autism at post-primary level has a 6:1.5 pupil teacher ratio.

The NCSE have advised that they are available to liaise with local schools in the context of the establishment of special class provision in Co. Kerry and that they will continue to monitor and review the requirement for special class places in particular areas. The NCSE has capacity to open 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.