Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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139. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in Fingal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6269/17]

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children availing of autism spectrum specific services in Fingal, by type of service, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6271/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 141 together.

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.

As the Deputy's questions relate to the prevalence of children with a diagnosis of ASD and those availing of ASD services in a specific area, I have referred the questions to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) for their consideration and direct reply.

The NCSE's Autism 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.

My Department provides a range of supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs in order to ensure that, wherever a child is enrolled, they will have access to an appropriate education.

The range of supports and services which are made available include additional learning and resource teaching support, Special Needs Assistant (S) support, funding for the purchase of specialised equipment, services of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), enhanced levels of capitation in Special schools and Special Classes and additional teacher training.

The NCSE is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENO), for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (S) to schools to support students with special educational needs, including autism. The NCSE operates within the Department's criteria in allocating such support.

The NCSE also provides information for Parents of Children with Special Education Needs through its website (www.ncse.ie) and Pamphlet Series which inform parents and guardians of supports and services available for children and young people with ASD and their families.

Also, for children with autism, the school year is extended to include the month of July. This is commonly referred to as 'the July Provision Programme'. This is typically delivered in the child's school, but where the school is not in a position to deliver this, it can be provided as home tuition.

My Department supports the professional development of staff working with children with special educational needs, including those with Autism, through the Special Education Support Service (SESS).

Further support is provided to children and their families by the Middletown Centre for Autism in Co. Armagh. This centre is jointly funded by my Department and the Department of Education in Northern Ireland. The Centre provides a comprehensive nationwide training service for parents and educational professionals. Parents can view the range of courses which the Centre has available through the website www.middletownautism.com.

The availability and provision of health-related therapy services, including speech and language, occupational therapy and sensory therapy support, is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE), and matters in relation to the provision of such services should be directed to the Minister for Health through the Health Service Executive. My Department has no responsibility or mandate for such services.