§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the role of the new Educational Centre of Excellence for Autism will be. [167604]
§ Mr. GardinerIt is the intention that the Middletown Centre for Autism will be dedicated to improving the educational opportunities of children and young people with autistic spectrum disorders. Provision will be made for comprehensive educational assessment, individual intervention, training and research support. The centre will be multi-disciplinary and will not replace or prevent the development of local provision, but will seek to enhance or support existing services through collaborative working arrangements.
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what services will be provided at the new autism centre of excellence. [169724]
§ Mr. GardinerIt is planned that the Middletown Centre for Autism will provide the following services
an educational assessment service;a learning support service;a training and advisory service for parents, teachers and other professionals; anda research and information service.The Centre will be multi-disciplinary in approach and work in collaboration with local services. It will not replace or prevent the development of local provision, but will seek to enhance or support existing services through collaborative working arrangements.