English meets Education Minister on St Oliver"s autism unit controversy

THE controversy over a special unit for children with autism in St Oliver Plunkett"s National School in Navan has been raised with the Minister for Education, Batt O"Keeffe and a review of the situation is to be undertaken, according to Deputy Damien English. Deputy English said that he had spoken to the minister on the issue and they had discussed the provision of services for children with autism and other special needs at St Oliver"s. The minister had assured him that he would review the situation and see what could be done, and the deputy looked forward to his response. Deputy English said that he hoped to get involved directly in the coming weeks and speak with all involved in running the school 'to see how best we can move this forward and how best we can serve the needs of these children.' He said that he believed the provision of services for children with autism was extremely important. 'Everyone knows that early intervention works. I will certainly work with all parents to make sure they get the best opportunity for education and services for their children. He expressed the opinion that, where possible, all schools should have a dedicated autism unit and this opinion was shared not only by the Minister but the Department of Education in general. What we need is a full education plan for Navan town and area, to look at all the educational needs of all our children at all levels now and in the years ahead. We need to plan how best to achieve the very best for our chiildren'. Meanwhile, parents of children with autism attending St Oliver Plunkett National School in Navan insisted this week that the only reason that an autistic unit has not been set up in the school is because the sole manager will not make the application to the Department of Education and Science. They said that Fr Brendan Ludlow stated that he had declined to make the application on the instructions of the school patron, Bishop Michael Smith. In a statement, the parents said that the idea of setting up an autistic unit was 'fully supported' by Ms Dervla Mulligan, SENO (Special Educational Needs Officer) and the Department. They said that this had been confirmed by Ms Mulligan to Mr Kevin Whelan, Irish Autism Ireland. 'The Department cannot give approval in writing until they receive an application from the school manager,' they say. The statement also said that Ms Mulligan had confirmed to the parents that she did meet with Fr Ludlow, manager of the school and discussed the setting up of an autistic unit at the school. 'When the EBD (Emotional and Behavioural Disturbance) units were set up in St Oliver Plunkett NS, the school had two pupils with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder). Now in 2009 the school has seven children enrolled with ASD. Five of these children are in mainstream classes. As these children have very specific needs this places considerable pressure on class teachers. An ASD unit would relieve the pressure on the class teacher. It would also serve the dual purpose of addressing the specific needs of these children in a specialised setting. These are vulnerable children that need all the specialised tuition and care that can be given in a small unit.' The parents said that the Department was currently cutting two SNAs (Special Needs Assistants) jobs in the EBD unit. These jobs could be redeployed in the proposed autistic unit. They also stated that St Oliver"s was losing two classroom teachers through an enforced drop in enrolment. One teacher could be redeployed in the proposed autism unit. 'An autism unit would have no impact on the EBD units in St Oliver"s whatsoever. In fact, it would enhance the school, as its establishment would ensure that the edcuational needs, as outlined in the psychological reports of these seven children, would be met. St Oliver Plunkett"s NS is well renowned for its care of the educationally disadvantaged and vulnerable children in the Navan area.' The parents said that St Oliver"s runs the July programme for children with ASD. This initiative was funded by the Department of Education and Science. Six of the children availed of this programme, all of whom are enrolled at St Oliver"s. 'It is our opinion that the Department would not facilitate this course unless there was a legitimate reason for doing so. Indeed this gives good reason for the placement of an ASD unit in our children"s school.' The parents said they applauded Bishop Smith for planning a double autistic unit in the redevelopment of St Paul"s National School. 'This proposal is in its infancy and in the present economic climate these units will not be in operation in the forseeable future. These units will indeed be needed as we know many couples in the Navan area with children with ASD. However, the seven children presently enrolled in St Oliver Plunkett"s need access to a specialised unit immediately. If Fr Brendan Ludlow and Bishop Michael Smith are genuinely mindful of the needs of the whole school community in St Oliver Plunkett"s, they should apply for this autistic unit immediately as the needs of these children impact on the whole school community,' the parents said. They added that the seven children with ASD in St Oliver"s were well settled and happy attending school on a daily basis with their siblings.