Hanafin claims 'complete transformation' for special needs

Minister for Education Mary Hanafin conceded that the State had not done enough over a long time for autistic children.

"I am on the record, in this House and in many other venues, as openly stating that there is no doubt that the record of the State over decades in providing for children with special needs was very poor and that we have been playing catch-up."

However, replying to a Fine Gael Private Members' motion critical of the Government's performance in that area, Ms Hanafin claimed that there had been a "complete transformation" over the past decade.

"Whereas 10 years ago, most parents of children with significant special education or care needs had no choice but to send them to a special school, now they have three distinct choices available to them.

"Their child can attend a mainstream class in their local school with additional supports as required, they can attend a special class in a mainstream school, or they can attend a special school."

On the use of ABA (applied behaviour analysis), Ms Hanafin said that children with autism could have varying needs and abilities.

"The Government believes that as each child with autism is unique, they should have access to a range of different teaching approaches to meet their individual needs."

Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes said that parents would be delighted to send their children to a mainstream school with adequate supports for their autistic children, if that was what their child had been prescribed.

"However, the reality is that there are many parents who receive official assessments from psychologists recommending that their child is in need of ABA tuition and there are few suitable services available.

"Parents must be provided with choices for their children but Minister Hanafin prefers to bully and 'tut-tut'.

"Instead of taking this course of action, I urge her instead to commit to funding the existing 12 ABA centres, expand the ABA scheme, institute an appeals system and make specific education services available to autistic children where it has been recommended by psychologists."

There was currently no means of appeal for parents other than pursuing their child's right to educational services through the courts, Mr Hayes continued.

"As the Ó Cuanacháin case showed, the Department of Education prefers to wrestle parents through the courts rather then provide the necessary services. It is a David and Goliath contest."

Labour's education spokesman Ruairí Quinn said there was a lot to be learned in that area.

"In particular," he added "we need to know how to train teachers and other specialists including psychologists, language and behaviour therapists so that they can help our young citizens with, a specific condition within the spectrum, how to learn.

"This is a key factor that is emerging in the dialogue between parents, specialists, teachers and politicians," Mr Quinn said.

"It is not possible to provide for mainstream education for such young pupils until such time as they have been equipped with the necessary skills of learning how to learn."