ASD provision in secondary schools
Deputy O’Sullivan called for a policy ensuring fair ASD class provision in secondary schools, especially in larger settlements. The Taoiseach agreed the issue mattered and said the Education Minister was pursuing it, but he did not have the timeline.
I would like to raise with the Taoiseach today the issue of autism spectrum disorder, ASD, provision in secondary schools in particular. I spoke to the Taoiseach privately about this in the past, and I have spoken about it publicly here in the Dáil. At present, small villages outside the city of Cork, such as Dripsey, Farran and Berrings, have three, four or often five ASD classes. Unfortunately, larger urban settlements in those areas sometimes have one or two such classes, if any at all. Will the Taoiseach indicate when we are going to implement a policy that ensures every child in this country has the opportunity to attend an ASD class in their own locality? At present, the ratio is 3:1 primary versus secondary school with regard to ASD class provision. That is not sustainable, and we need urgent action.
