Written answers

Tuesday, 17 January 2017

Department of Education and Skills

Autism Incidence

Photo of Jonathan O'BrienJonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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357. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children of primary school age in the Cork region who have been diagnosed with autism. [41048/16]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard 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.

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 within mainstream schools or in special schools where more intensive and supportive interventions are provided.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) Autism Policy Advice Policy Advice on Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Schools noted that there were almost 14,000 students diagnosed with autism in schools. This indicates a national ASD prevalence rate of 1.55% or 1 in every 65 students.

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 NCSE does not have a prevalence rate specific to Cork, however the NCSE has advised that there are 1,799 Primary Level students with ASD attending schools in Cork.

Of these, 1,083 students attend mainstream schools and are accessing in-school supports including Resource teaching and SNA support. A further 576 students with ASD are attending 104 Special Classes within mainstream schools for students with Autism of which 22 are Early Intervention ASD Classes and 80 are primary ASD classes. The remaining 140 students with ASD are placed in special schools.

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