Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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178. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if adequate resources are in place to meet the teaching and accommodation requirements of children with Asperger's syndrome and autism at primary and secondary level, if she has identified the areas of great demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44405/15]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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179. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if adequate resources are in place to meet the teaching and accommodation requirements of children with Asperger's syndrome and autism at primary and secondary level school throughout County Kildare, if she has identified the areas of great demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44406/15]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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180. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the number of autism classes throughout County Kildare will increase in line with demand in the coming year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44407/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 to 180, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy is aware my Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including Asperger's Syndrome, in order to ensure that, wherever a child is enrolled, they will have access to an appropriate education.

Children with ASD may be enrolled in a mainstream school and can attend all mainstream classes. In such cases these children will receive additional teaching support through the learning support and/or the resource teacher and, where appropriate, will receive access to Special Needs Assistance and assistive technology if required.

In respect of children with ASD who cannot be accommodated in mainstream education, they may be enrolled in special classes or special schools where more intensive and supportive interventions are provided.

Progress in developing this network has been significant and in addition to the special school placements there are over 1,000 special classes throughout the country at primary and post primary level. The number of special classes at post primary level has risen by approximately 70 classes in the last 3 years.

The NCSE have advised that there are 56 ASD classes in Co. Kildare. 5 of these are Early Intervention classes for children with ASD who are not yet school going age, 40 ASD classes are at primary school level and there are 11 ASD classes at post primary level. A full list of special classes is available at www.ncse.ie.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has recently submitted their Policy Advice on Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. In developing this policy advice, the NCSE has consulted widely with parents, professionals and other stakeholders and interested parties while also conducting research. The policy advice is currently under consideration in my Department.

My officials will consider and report to me on any recommendations in the report which relate to the issues raised by the Deputy.