The issue I want to bring to the Taoiseach's attention this afternoon is a crisis in the availability of post-primary places for children on the autistic spectrum. There is a chronic lack of places and a similar lack of secondary schools making provision for children and young people on the autism spectrum. If one looks at how the primary situation evolved over the past decade and a half, one will see that initially in the late 1990s - from 1998 onwards - departmental inspectors engaged with schools to facilitate the establishment of many special classes in primary schools. There was quite dramatic growth and engagement.

There has been a complete absence of that kind of proactivity, co-ordination and demographic planning at second level for children with autism. Overall, we have 548 autistic spectrum disorder, ASD, classes at primary level, which are classes for children with autism. At post-primary level, there are 237. One can immediately see the enormous shortage of suitable places. There is also a complete lack of proactivity on the part of the Department of Education and Skills. The National Council for Special Education does not have the powers to instruct schools to take in children with autism.

There is no planning and every year there is incredible pressure on parents to do all the running. Everything is left to the last minute. A meeting was organised in Cork last night by a teacher who worked in a school with a special autism unit at second level. He is absolutely fed up of having to deal with the anguish of parents who are applying to this particular school but who are told there are no places available. There are not many other schools to send their children to because very few offer second-level placements for children with autism. There was a huge turnout at the meeting but this is a national issue. In every county there are parents who do not know where their children will be next September. This is because of gaps in the legislative framework and the absence of a proper engagement with schools, as well as a lack of proper planning and of resources.

The wherewithal to deal with this matter exists in the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill. Will the Government agree to give powers to the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to ensure that children are accepted by second-level schools and to instruct such schools to set up special units? It cannot be left to a small number of second-level schools to do it but that is what is going on at the moment. It is about time that everybody put their shoulder to the wheel and that the national council is given the legislative powers it needs.

It is always a very difficult situation when a child is assessed as being on a particular point on the autistic spectrum and it creates a great challenge for the child, the parents and a school. In some cases, however, things work out very well. The NCSE is carrying out a review of facilities for autistic children nationally, with particular emphasis on Cork. The number of classes for autistic children has increased from 500 to 1,000 in the past five years. This is an increase of 100% and it is continuing. It is a decision for each school as to whether it wishes to have an ASD class. The decision is not for the Department to make. There is full engagement because this service is critical in the lives of the children concerned, as well as fundamental to the lives of their parents and children in general. The Minister for Education and Skills and his Department will continue to expand the number of ASD classes because they are a fundamental part of allowing every child the best opportunity to make his or her way forward. The increase in classes that I mentioned will continue and the strategy will make further progress in the time ahead.

The Taoiseach has not answered the question and his reply is dangerously disengaged and disconnected. There are 548 special classes at primary level and 237 at post-primary level. There is also a big shortage at preschool level but I am concentrating on post-primary level. The Taoiseach said it was up to schools to decide but that is what I am asking him to end. It can no longer be left to individual schools to decide. At primary level, every single school got involved after 1998 when we brought in automatic entitlement at primary level for children with special needs. At post-primary level, only certain schools are working to take in children on the autistic spectrum. The rest of the schools are not engaging and the Department is not engaging with them. Everybody in this House knows that this is happening each year. It is appalling and scandalous that parents have no idea whether they will have a place next September. There is no need for this situation in light of all the work that has been done in the primary sector in the past decade and a half. Everybody should know who is coming through the primary sector and there should be proper assessments.

It really worries me that the Taoiseach did not really respond to my key point. There is some progress in the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill towards this end but the legislation needs to be strengthened dramatically. First, it should be strengthened to place an absolute requirement on a second-level school to accept a child in the locality who is on the autistic spectrum and who is recommended for such a placement.

Second, the national council should have the powers to engage proactively, to plan, map, organise and co-ordinate the provision of units-----

I thank Deputy Martin. His time is up.

-----for children with autism at second level and to instruct schools to establish such units and resource them effectively. That is the way to do it. The matter cries out for such action and intervention. The schools admissions Bill is the way to do it. Will the Taoiseach indicate that the Government would be willing to accept amendments to the Bill to make sure this becomes a reality?

The matter should be discussed on Committee Stage. The Deputy asks that the State compel schools to form such classes.

Absolutely.

He is aware that the State can oblige a school to take in a pupil. It is a very different prospect to legislate to the effect that such classes for children with autism must be created. This is a big difference. I am quite sure the Minister is willing to tease out the issue on Committee Stage of the schools admissions Bill. However, the Deputy suggests that boards of management in secondary schools should receive orders from the Department of Education and Skills to create classes for ASD children-----

We are saying we must have an inclusive society.

-----whereas we know that the Department can oblige a school to take a child into a class if the school attempts to refuse to do so. It is a different prospect to set out to issue instructions and orders to every school to form ASD classes. The Minister would be very happy to engage with the Deputy or anyone else on the matter in the discussions on Committee Stage of the admissions to schools Bill.