Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made in relation to securing extra places in south County Kildare for children diagnosed with autism scheduled to start primary school in September 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23008/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that this Government is committed to ensuring that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.

Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational interventions, delivered by fully qualified professional teachers, with the support of Special Needs Assistants and the appropriate school curriculum.

There are approximately 14,000 students with ASD in the school system.

- 63% are educated in mainstream classes

- 23% are educated in special classes in mainstream primary and post-primary schools; and

- 14% are educated in special schools.

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 it is the role of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to make appropriate arrangements to establish special classes in schools in communities where the need for such classes has been identified.

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.

Progress in developing this network has been significant and in addition to the special school placements there are currently over 1,000 special classes throughout the country at primary and post-primary level of which 765 are for children with Autism.

The NCSE recently published a list of special classes for the 2016/17 school year. In total there will be 1,153 special classes available next year, which is an increase of over 100% in the number of special classes which were available in 2011, which was 548. The NCSE has advised that for the coming school year there will be 127 early intervention classes, 525 primary ASD classes and 237 post-primary ASD classes, which represents an increase of approx. 16% on 2015/16 classes for children with autism.

Of these, there will be 59 ASD classes in Co. Kildare, including 6 Early Intervention Classes for children who are not yet school going age, 41 primary school classes and 12 at post-primary level in mainstream schools. 2 of these classes are new classes due to open in September 2016, 1 at primary level and 1 at post-primary level.

The NCSE continues to monitor and review the requirement for special class places in particular areas and has capacity to establish such new special classes where necessary subject to the willingness of schools to open classes.

Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs, including those in Co. Kildare, are available on www.ncse.iein county order, with new classes identified.