Written answers

Monday, 11 September 2017

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs Data

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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313. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of school placements available to children with autism spectrum disorders, ASD, in counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois and Offaly; the location of each unit; if places are available at any or all of the units named; if occupational therapy, psychology and speech and language services are available through these ASD classes or locations; his plans in this area of education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37022/17]

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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314. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide ASD units to all schools in which demand has been identified; if existing ASD classes will be funded to cater for larger numbers in which demand is identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37023/17]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 313 and 314 together.

The policy of my Department is to ensure 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.

This policy has been informed by published research, including the Report of the Task Force on Autism (2001), the Evaluation of Educational Provision for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) (2006) and National Council for Special Education (NCSE) policy advice on Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (2016).

The NCSE policy advice on Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (2016) found that Students are generally well supported in schools with appropriate curriculum; extensive teacher and SNA supports; improving range of educational placements supported by improved accommodation and equipment; improved teacher knowledge and understanding and a generally good standard of provision at primary and post primary levels.

The NCSE Policy Advice also states that International Research findings suggest that most students with ASD should be considered for inclusion in mainstream education with their peers, where inclusion is well-planned and well-resourced.

Decisions about placement should be based on individual needs and take into account a number of factors including parental wishes, availability of evidence-based treatments and well-trained staff and individual factors such as targets for intervention and management of behaviours.

There is therefore not one preferred educational environment for children with ASD, rather there is a model which takes into account the assessed educational needs of individual pupils.

Almost 18,000 students in schools have been diagnosed with autism. My Department invests over €300 million annually in providing additional resources specifically to support students with autism in schools enabling:

- 63% of students to attend  mainstream schools

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

- 11% to attend special schools.

Students enrolling in ASD Special Classes must have a report from a relevant professional or team of professionals (for example, psychologist, speech and language therapist, psychiatrist) stating that:

- S/he has ASD

- S/he has significant learning needs that require the support of a special class setting and the reasons why this is the case.

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 where there is an identified need.

The NCSE continues to establish additional special classes to support children with Special Educational Needs including Autism as required. Since 2011 the NCSE has increased the number of special classes by over 100% from 548 in 2011 to 1,302 for the 2017/18 school year. 1,042 of these are Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) special classes of which 151 are being newly established for this school year.

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.

While it is not always possible to ensure that a special class placement will be available in a child’s local school, the NCSE has informed my Department that, in general, they are satisfied that there are sufficient ASD special class placements to meet existing demand.

My Department continues to work with the NCSE to ensure that there is appropriate planning in place to ensure that all children who require special class placements can access such placements in schools within their communities.

Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs, including those in the Counties to which the Deputy has referred are available onwww.ncse.ie in county order, and with new classes identified. Information in relation to the number of available placements in each of these classes is not immediately available to my Department as the placements are still being filled by schools. The NCSE will advise parents of placement options within existing special classes where such placements remain unfilled after the enrolment processes have been concluded.

The provision of therapies such as Speech and Language are under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Health and the service is provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Any queries in this regard should be directed to my colleague, the Minister for Health.

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