James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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372. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the vacant ASD unit at a college (details supplied). [36523/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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It is the policy of my Department that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, 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.

Approximately 18,000 students in schools have been diagnosed with autism. The Department of Education and Skills invests over €300 million annually in providing additional resources specifically to support students with autism in schools enabling:

- 61% of students to attend mainstream schools

- 26% to attend special classes in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, and

- 13% to attend special schools.

Some students, although academically able to access the curriculum in mainstream, may find it too difficult to manage full-time placement there. This can be due to significant difficulties in areas such as behaviour or sensory needs which have not been ameliorated, even with appropriate intervention, in mainstream. Enrolment in an ASD special class can be considered for these students where it has been demonstrated that he/she is unable to learn effectively in a mainstream class for most or all of the school day even with appropriate supports.

It is the policy of my Department to include a Special Needs Unit in the accommodation brief for new school buildings. As the Deputy is aware a 4 classroom special needs unit was provided in the new Creagh Community College.

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 school placements in various geographical areas where there is an identified need.

The NCSE, in looking to open special classes, must take into account the present and future potential need for such classes, taking particular account of the educational needs of the children concerned. The NCSE will also take account of location and sustainability in looking to establish special classes in certain areas.

The NCSE has not identified the need to establish an ASD special classes in Creagh College at present.

However the NCSE projections of future need in the Gorey area indicate that additional post primary ASD Special Classes will be required in the coming years.

Parents/guardians who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement should contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) who can assist in identifying an appropriate educational placement for their child. Contact details are available on www.ncse.ie.