Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2009
391 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans for the provision of services for autistic children; if he will continue grant aiding children who are attending facilities as in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46817/09]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to facilitate tuition for children of school going age awaiting an educational placement and also to provide early educational intervention for pre-school children with autism where no educational placement is available. The position is that a number of educational placements have recently become available in a nearby school. The child's parents were aware that these placements would become available in November 2009 and were advised by my Department in September to remain in contact with their SENO in relation to securing one of these placements. Funding has been sanctioned to the 22nd of December 2009 to allow for transitional arrangements.
392 Deputy Mary O’Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) who has received notification from the national educational services that they are dyslexic and eligible for a laptop computer from his Department to support their educational development. [46905/09]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENO) for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.
My Department has no record of receiving a recommendation for a laptop for the child in question. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie. I have arranged for the details supplied by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
