Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

49. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports available for students with autism in both primary and secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35022/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

Almost 14,000 students in schools have been diagnosed with autism. My Department invests over €300m annually in providing additional resources specifically to support students with autism in schools enabling:

- 63% of students to attend mainstream schools

- 23% to attend special classes in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, and

- 14% to attend special schools.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including SNA support and resource teachers 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.

At present, there are 1,153 special classes opened in schools for 2016/17, representing an increase of over 100% in the number of special classes which were available in 2011, which was 548. These comprise of 889 classes for children with Autism; 127 early intervention classes, 525 primary ASD classes and 237 post-primary ASD classes. This represents an increase of approx. 16% on 2015/16 classes for children with Autism.

This year, 12,900 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are available for allocation to schools, to the end of 2016, which represents an increase of 23% over the numbers allocated in 2011. Funding is being allocated to provide for the recruitment of 115 additional Special Needs Assistants from January 2017. 

There are currently over 12,400 learning support and Resource Teacher posts in mainstream primary and post primary schools, providing additional teaching support to pupils with special educational needs including children with Autism.

Resources which are provided to schools to support children with Autism include the following:

- 2,200 extra teachers in mainstream schools specifically to support children with Autism.

- 889 special classes for students with autism – up from fewer than 80 in 2001.

- 20 special schools specifically for students with Autism

- One teacher and a minimum of two SNAs for every primary special class of six students with ASD and 1.5 teachers and a minimum of two SNAs for every post-primary special class.

- SNA support – About 69% of all students with ASD access SNA support.

- Assistive technology.

- Professional development for teachers.

- Access to the Special School transport scheme.

- Access to special equipment and furniture where required.

- Enhanced capitation grant.

- Adapted school buildings.

- Access to the extended school year scheme. (July Provision)

The Deputy will be aware that the NCSE has published updated policy advice on the Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. In developing this policy advice, the NCSE consulted widely with parents, professionals and other stakeholders and interested parties while also conducting research. The report includes 11 key Recommendations which focus on improvements which might be considered to the range of provisions which are currently available for children with Autism in schools.

The NCSE also have a range of Information Booklets available on their website () for parents of children with special educational needs, which are written for parents to answer key questions they may have about special education, both generally and as it relates to their child.