Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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143. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school place will urgently be provided at a school for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33591/16]

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.

The National Council for Special Education has advised my officials that the child in question has a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

At present, 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.  

Children with ASD enrolled in mainstream classes can 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 are unable to learn effectively in a mainstream class for most or all of the school day even with appropriate supports, they may be enrolled in special classes or special schools where more intensive and supportive interventions are provided.

My Department has been informed by the NCSE that the Parents of the child in question have recently sought to enrol their child in a different school. The NCSE local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) has liaised with the Parents and helped identify available school placement options.

The enrolment of a child to a school is a matter, in the first instance, for the parents/guardians of the child and the Board of Management of a school. Parents can choose which school to apply to and, where the school has places available, the pupil should be admitted.

Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of my Department, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school. My Department has no authority to compel a school to admit a pupil, except in the case of an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 being upheld.

Application forms for taking a section 29 appeal are available on my Department's website at the following link , or by contacting Section 29 Administration Unit, Friars Mill Road, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. Appeals should be taken within 42 days from receipt of written notification from the school's Board of Management.

The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill was published on 6^thJuly 2016. The Admissions Bill provides that where a school has places available it must admit all applicants. The Bill contains a provision for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to designate a school for a child who has no school place for reasons related to the child’s special educational needs and for the Child and Family Agency to designate a school for a child who has no school place (other than a child with special educational needs).

The parents of the child should continue to liaise with their local SENO in planning the transition of their child to the new school placement.