Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which a child (details supplied) diagnosed with autism and currently attending an interactive early intervention class in Skibbereen could be moved to a junior ASD class in Dunmanway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17147/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools, which have enrolled students with special educational needs, in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education. 

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.

My Department therefore provides for a continuum of provision which includes mainstream school placements with additional supports, or for pupils who require more specialist interventions, special school and special class placements.

This network includes 130 ASD early intervention classes, 635 primary ASD classes and 277 post-primary ASD classes in mainstream schools and 125 Special School of which 20 are ASD special schools.

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.

My Department’s policy is that all children must be enrolled in the primary school system, whether through placement in mainstream classes, in special classes or in special schools in the September prior to their sixth birthday. If children are not in school by six years of age, under the Education Welfare Act 2000, the Educational Welfare service must be satisfied that the child is receiving a minimum standard of education in a place other than a recognised school.

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).

As the matter raised by the Deputy refers to a particular child, I have arranged for the Deputy's question to be forwarded to the National Council for Special Education for their attention and direct reply.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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136. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to fund a purpose built ASD unit at a school (details supplied); and when funding will be made available. [17170/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Funding has been approved to provide a two-classroom ASD unit at the school to which the Deputy refers.  The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.  The project is in the design stages.  My Department's Professional and Technical staff visited the school recently and are assisting the school with design options.

Funding is committed to the project.  The first tranche of devolved project funding (70%) is drawn down by a school authority when a project goes on site.  The final tranche (30%) is drawn down when a project is satisfactorily completed.