Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of ASD units at secondary level in County Kildare; the number of ASD places available at secondary level in County Kildare; the number of new places proposed for school year 2017/2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9507/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for organising and planning provision for children with Special Educational Needs, including establishing special classes in mainstream primary and post primary schools. Special classes 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.

The NCSE continues to engage with schools in opening special classes where there is an identified need for special class provision.

Progress in developing the network of Special Classes has been significant and there are currently 1,153 special classes available, which is an increase of over 100% in the number of special classes which were available in 2011, which were 548.

Of the 1,153 classes available some 127 are ASD early intervention classes, 525 are primary ASD classes and 237 are post-primary ASD classes. The remaining classes are for children with a range of Special Educational Needs other than Autism.

The Department considers that it is essential that in assessing the need for special class options in certain areas, the individual needs of children should be properly assessed to determine the appropriateness of special class provision for them.

It should not be presumed that there should be a special class placement in post primary school for every child that leaves a special class in primary school as many of these children should be able to consider transferring to mainstream or special schools as appropriate.

With regard to Kildare in particular there are 942 students with ASD attending schools in the county. Of these 520 students attend mainstream schools and are accessing in-school supports including Resource teaching and S support. 322 students are attending 59 ASD special classes, including 6 early intervention classes, 41 primary ASD classes and 12 post primary ASD classes. A further 100 students with ASD are placed in 4 special schools.

The NCSE has indicated that it is currently satisfied that there will be sufficient ASD special class placements available to meet demand in the region for the forthcoming school year.

However both the Department and the NCSE recognise that there have been challenges in opening special classes in some Post primary schools in Kildare.

The NCSE has indicated that, in general, this is related to the availability of accommodation in these schools. The Department's Building Unit has advised that Special Needs Units (SNUs) are currently under construction at St Conleth's Vocational School, Newbridge and Ard Scoil na Trionóide, Athy.

In addition, major building projects for a number of schools in Kildare are included on the Department's 6 Year Construction Plan and Special Needs units (SNUs) will be included in these Developments. The schools in question are:

St Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin

Naas Community College, Naas

Cross and Passion College, Kilcullen

Athy Community College

St Farnan’s Post Primary, Prosperous.