Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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157. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the services she provides for children with autism in County Monaghan, the specific supports in place, the assistance and back-up available to children and to their parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45577/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) 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.

The Deputy will also be aware that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is responsible, through its network of local special educational needs organisers, SENOs, for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support students with special educational needs, including autism. It is also the role of the NCSE to make appropriate arrangements to establish special classes in schools in various geographical areas as required.

The NCSE have advised that there are 8 special ASD classes in mainstream schools in Co. Monaghan. 3 of these are Early Intervention classes for children with ASD who are not yet school going age and 5 ASD classes are at primary school level. A full list of special classes is available on the NCSEs website www.ncse.ie.

The NCSE provides information for Parents of Children with Special Education Needs through its website and Pamphlet Series which inform parents and guardians of supports and services available for children and young people with ASD and their families.

SENOs are also a valuable resource to parents in the following ways:

- Providing support and advice.

- Identifying possible school placements for children.

- Liaising with the school, the HSE and other services.

- Assisting in planning the transition of children to school, between schools and onwards from school.

The Middletown Centre for Autism is an initiative jointly funded between my Department and the Department of Education in Northern Ireland. The Centre provides a comprehensive nationwide training service for parents and educational professionals. Parents can view the range of courses which the Centre has available through the website www.middletownautism.com.

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.