Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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234. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new ASD units that have been provided for children on the autistic spectrum in schools in County Limerick for September 2016; the plans in place for further such units in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36304/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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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. The Department of Education and Skills 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 NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), in consultation with the relevant education partners, is responsible for the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. Special classes are part of a continuum of educational provision that enables students with more complex special educational needs to be educated, in smaller class groups, within their local mainstream schools.

They offer a supportive learning environment to students with ASD who are unable to access the curriculum in a mainstream class, even with support, for most or all of their school day. Special class for students with ASD are staffed with a lower pupil–teacher ratio of 6:1 at primary level and 6:1.5 at post primary level, and also have Special Needs Assistant support normally amounting to 2 for a class of 6 children.

Students enrolled in special classes should be included in mainstream classes to the greatest extent possible, in line with their abilities.

Progress in developing this network has been significant and in addition to the special school placements there are 1,153 special classes available, which is an increase of over 100% in the number of special classes which were available in 2011, which was 548.

This includes a total of 889 classes, 127 are ASD 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.

There are 19 special classes for children with autism attached to mainstream schools in Co. Limerick for 2016/17 school year comprising 2 Early Intervention Classes for children who are not yet school going age, 7 primary school classes and 10 at post primary level.  8 of these classes are new classes open in September 2016, 1 Early Intervention Class, 3 at primary level and 4 at post primary level.

Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs, are available on in county order, and with new classes identified.

The NCSE continues to review the special class placement requirements in County Limerick and is currently engaging with schools with regard to opening new special classes in areas where there is an identified need for special class provision.

The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill was published on 6 July 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).

Furthermore, it is general practice to include a Special Needs Unit in the accommodation brief for new school buildings, unless local circumstances indicate that it will not be required.  In addition, the Department may also provide capital funding to schools to establish special needs provision e.g. re-configure existing accommodation to provide a special class where this has been approved by the National Council for Special Education through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers. The NCSE recently launched guidelines for Boards of Management and Principals of Primary and Post Primary schools which provide information on setting up and organising special classes. These guidelines are available to download from .