This sounds more like an Ard-Fheis. Last weekend the Taoiseach told the nation he had lots of money to give away. Earlier the Committee of Public Accounts stated the Government wasted €13 billion, which is more than the Taoiseach had in mind. However, the contrast is stark. The message from the Government regarding mental health provision is that it cannot afford the most basic services. The Irish Independent reports today that 5,300 pupils will be hit by the withdrawal of psychological services from 29 schools in Dublin and Wicklow.

Did the Taoiseach see the media coverage of the court case involving Seán Ó Cuanacháin, a young Wicklow boy with autism? Bearing in mind that the Minister for Education and Science welcomed the court judgment, did the Taoiseach see the boy's mother, Yvonne, stating, "The light of learning has all but been extinguished from Seán today". I do not ask the Taoiseach to comment on the case because aspects of it are ongoing and I do not suggest there is only one method for teaching children with autism. Given that Mrs. Ó Cuanacháin is seven months pregnant, spent nine days in the witness box, is a trained psychologist and only sought what her child needs — 30 hours of applied behavioural analysis a week, which would save the State money — does he welcome the outcome of the case? Does he welcome forcing parents in that position into court to obtain the services their children need? Following the case, will the Government provide funding for autism services such as ABA? Will the Taoiseach ensure the waiting lists for an appointment for assessment, which can take up to two years, will be reduced? Will the Government recognise ABA as a sufficient qualification for teachers of children with autism? Can the Taoiseach seriously just sit there and welcome that judgment without answering these other questions?

I appreciate I have not been asked by the Deputy to comment on an individual case but I do not take satisfaction in seeing parents having to fight issues relating to their children in court.

The Taoiseach welcomed the case.

I assure the House that improving services for children of special needs across a range of areas has been, and continues to be, a major priority for the Government. We have worked hard to dramatically increase services in recent years. This year €820 million will be spent on special needs education, which is an increase of more than 30% on last year. A total of 8,000 special needs assistants are working in mainstream primary and second level schools compared to 300 on the day I became Taoiseach. More than 7,000 resource and learning school teachers are in place compared to approximately 2,000 five or six years ago.

Major progress has been made in the support of children with autism, which is the important issue raised by the Deputy. The Department of Education and Science's preferred approach to the provision of appropriate education for children with autism is through the primary and post-primary school network——

Not for all children.

——whether through placement in mainstream classes, special classes or in special schools, a view supported by the findings of the task force report on autism. Autistic children in the school system have access to qualified teachers using a range of methodologies.

Over the past few years, 182 special classes for children with autism have been provided in special and mainstream schools and they are attached to the schools. We have provided five special classes for children with Asperger's syndrome, 18 preschool classes to facilitate the demand for early intervention and 14 stand-alone facilities for applied behavioural analysis, the ABA specific methodology, on a pilot basis.

Which the parents are funding.

Two of these facilities have to be established.

As Deputy Sargent acknowledged, ABA is not the only issue. I have met the groups and committees working on this issue. The Department's view and the expert opinion is that exclusive intervention through ABA is not the only way. The task force on autism recommended that a range of resources and approaches be made available to meet the unique needs of each student with autistic spectrum disorder in all settings and the Department is of the view that children with autism, in common with all children, should be educated by suitably qualified teachers within the school system where they can mix with the wider peer group and have maximum opportunity for integration. Pupils attending special classes in mainstream school benefit from the wider range of special teaching methodologies open to them, fully qualified national school teachers, a school structure and the option of integration into mainstream classes if that is suitable for them.

I can well understand that a number of parents take the view that only one methodology suits their children but the State is providing——

It is more than a view.

The Deputy cannot say the effort and significant resources that have been put in and the ongoing work and research in this area are not a good response in this area.

That is nonsense.

The Deputy says it is nonsense for us to have appointed thousands of additional staff to work in the education system. That is a huge improvement. That is what the Government is committed to and that is what the Minister for Education and Science has been doing so excellently over the past number of years.

I must read between the lines. Do I take it from the Taoiseach's response that he will not provide additional funding for ABA tuition, he will not recognise ABA as a stand-alone qualification and he is not prepared to reduce waiting lists for assessment? I have to infer his reply from what he does not say as much as what he says. Approximately one in 66 children is affected by autism and that number is increasing. Resources will, therefore, have to be increased regardless. Approximately 150 families such as the Ó Cuanacháins have been left with no option but to go to court to try their luck through the legal system because the State will not deal with their children in the way their psychologists have recommended. Does the Taoiseach not recognise investment in ABA will save the State money in the long run?

The Deputy's time has concluded.

This could be argued as a simple point of accountancy.

The Taoiseach spoke about ABA facilities. However, in Donaghmede, parents are obliged to provide funds of €10,000 and in the ABA school in Kilcloon, County Meath, parents must find €12,000 monthly. Parents must go into debt at every turn to try to do what the Government should, namely, to get analysis for their children.

Is it acceptable for the Government to drive such parents into court repeatedly? Is it acceptable to have groups such as NUI Maynooth engaging in a sponsored cycle this Friday to try to raise money to provide funds or to have entertainers such as Mr. Keith Duffy getting involved——

The Deputy's time has concluded.

——in the fundraising? I will reduce the basic point to a single question.

I would prefer the Deputy to conclude. We are running well over time.

I am concluding. This is the last sentence of the last question. I know this is a complex issue. However, if the Taoiseach will not answer me in the House, will he at least meet——

I ask the Deputy to give way to the Taoiseach.

——Irish Autism Action in the wake of that court case to assess where we now stand and what must be done?

Deputy Sargent understands that ABA is only one such treatment.

I have already said that.

There are several. I have answered on the question of resources. There has been an increase of more than 30% this year.

Unplugged gaps.

Resources have increased by more than 30%. Public expenditure has risen by 38% or 39% and the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act is regarded as being one of the most advanced anywhere in the world.

Who considers it to be advanced?

It has not been fully implemented.

That is the consideration regarding this Act.

Did the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, tell the Taoiseach so?

It is a fact.

It is a recognised fact.

The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, knows it all.

Deputy Sargent, please. The Chair will be obliged to take appropriate action.

I was looking for a source.

I ask the Deputy to behave himself in the Chamber and allow the Taoiseach to speak without interruption.

Autism is an important issue and as I noted, 182 special classes for children with autism are attached to schools. This is considered to be the best approach. There are also special classes for different streams of autism. There are 18 pre-school classes to facilitate demand for early intervention and 14 stand-alone facilities have been provided for applied behavioural analysis. These are pilot schemes run by the Department of Education and Science. They are not——

What about funding?

It is the Government's priority to continue to expand provision for children with autism. All primary and post-primary schools have access to psychological assessments for their pupils through the various schemes. More than 4,000 such private assessments were funded in the school system last year. The Government has continued to provide resources for this matter in every way possible through the various representative groups for autism with which the Minister keeps in regular contact. Several support programmes to help them exist.

In addition, on the phased implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, in the next few years parents who believe the needs of their child are not being met will have a process of mediation and appeal open to them. This is likely to prove more appropriate and less costly than obliging people to go through the courts, which is certainly not the Government's preferred option. The full implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act will help in this regard.

While many other issues arise in respect of autism, I will conclude by raising one more. Students who attend special autism-specific classes have a maximum pupil-teacher ratio of 6:1. A minimum of two special needs assistants are provided——

Some require one to one tuition.

——per class with the possibility of additional special needs assistant posts being made available on a one to one basis, where required. Deputy Sargent should note this is already in existence. Significant support is now available in the area of teacher training through an accredited autism-specific course, an approach-specific course, on-line courses and through special education. Moreover, specialist school transport, equipment and accommodation is also funded.

The State is doing an enormous amount to help——

The Taoiseach should conclude.

——and the Government will continue to have ongoing meetings with Irish Autism Action on such issues.