Vol. 541 No. 4
168 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the ABA method in respect of children with autism; the funding which he has provided in 2001 for such centres; the number of children being catered for; and if he intends to expand this provision. [22990/01]
The applied behavioural analysis, ABA, method is one of a range of models of approach to the education of children with autism. The appropriateness of any approach depends on the assessed needs of the individual child.
My Department is currently funding on a pilot project basis the annual operating costs of three facilities using exclusively ABA based approaches. One such facility, which is based in Cork, was established in 1999 and is operating on a five year pilot basis. Two further ABA based facilities were established, one in Dublin and one in Kill, County Kildare. Both the latter facilities are being funded. The facilities in question are capable of catering for a total of 54 children with autism. The operation of these facilities is being evaluated to determine their effectiveness as models of response to the educational needs of children with autism. The funding to be provided in 2001 for the three facilities in question is estimated at £9,670,000.
The role of ABA models as a response to the educational needs of children with autism is one of the issues being addressed by the special task force on autism which I established in October 2000 and which is due to report by the end of this month. My Department has also commissioned the UK based National Foundation for Educational Research to evaluate all current State funded models of response to the educational needs of children with autism, including models using ABA based methods. I expect to receive the foundation's report in the next two weeks.
Decisions regarding any further expansion in the provision of exclusively ABA based models will be taken in the light of the report of the task force on autism and the outcome of the evaluation being conducted by the National Foundation for Educational Research.
