Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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532. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the preschools with autism spectrum disorder units in County Kildare; if there is none in place, her plans to provide them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40442/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I note that the Deputy has clarified that he is referring to early intervention classes attached to mainstream schools in Co. Kildare.

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.

The NCSE have advised that there are 5 Early Intervention classes attached to mainstream schools in Co. Kildare.

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.

The NCSE also 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, subject to the willingness of schools to open classes.

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.

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.