Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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146. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps being taken to provide early intervention classes on the southside of Cork city and in surrounding suburbs such as Douglas, Rochestown, Carrigaline, Passage West and Crosshaven; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14641/18]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps being taken to improve the number of austic spectrum disorders, ASD, appropriate primary school places in Cork city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14642/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together.

My Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools, which have enrolled students with special educational needs, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education.

ASD Early intervention classes are available for children aged 3-5 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Early intervention classes are intended to provide early support for children with ASD before they start school. Following early intervention children will attend a mainstream class unless there is professional guidance that they require a special class or a placement in a special school.

Most children with ASD attend mainstream class, but some require the environment of a special class or special school. This decision is based on a professional assessment in consultation with the NCSE.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) which is a separate independent statutory body, plans and co-ordinates the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year, and where special provision, including special class or special school provision, is required, it is planned and established to meet that need.

In Cork City and County there are 23 Early Intervention ASD classes, 102 Primary ASD classes and 50 Post-Primary ASD classes in mainstream schools for 2017/18 school year.

The NCSE has advised my Department that it intends to establish 4 new Early Intervention ASD classes, 10 new Primary ASD classes and 5 new Post-Primary ASD classes in the city and county for the 2018/19 school year.

The NCSE has advised my Department that there is an emerging need for additional Special School placement options in the Cork area. 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 school placements can access such placements. This process is ongoing.

The enrolment of a child in a school is a matter, in the first instance, for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department and the NCSE has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools.

Accordingly, the NCSE advises parents to seek to enrol their child, by applying in writing, to the school/s of their choice as early as possible. Where Parents have been unsuccessful in enrolling their child in a special school or special class placement for the 2018/19 school year, they should update their local SENO to inform the planning process. Contact details are available on www.ncse.ie.

The NCSE has advised that they continue to work with schools, parents, NEPS, health professionals and other staff who are involved in the provision of services in the Cork area for children with special educational needs, to ensure that each child has a school placement appropriate to their needs for the 2018/19 school year.

The Deputy should be aware that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs provides supports for pre-school education.

The principal vehicle for the delivery of pre-school education is the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme which provides for early learning in a formal setting to children before they commence primary school.

Children with disabilities have access to pre-school services under the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) programme of supports.

AIM is a child-centred model, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, depending on the needs of the child and the pre-school.

Details of the supports which are available under AIM can be found at www.preschoolaccess.ie which contains comprehensive information on the access and inclusion model and on how to apply for the new schemes and supports.