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Home Tuition Scheme Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2013

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Questions (294)

Finian McGrath

Question:

294. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a date for the issuance of his policy on autism and the reason the DFS are operating the home tuition scheme in an inequitable manner. [27532/13]

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Written answers

The Deputy will be aware that, mindful that greater clarity on my Department's policy on the education of children with autism would be useful for schools and parents, my Department is currently in the process of preparing a comprehensive statement of existing policy within the boundaries of one document. This process is ongoing. My Department's policy on the education of children with Autism resides within the overall policies on the education of children with special educational needs. In the main these policies are non condition specific. In this context, the Autism policy, whether expressed in a multiple of documents or in a single document, should not be viewed as a separate 'stand alone' policy. The new policy statement will not be exclusive. Policies are subject of necessity to change from time to time. Also, the new statement will neither alter nor add to existing policy. It will reflect the current policy in a coherent and articulate manner for the benefit of schools and parents. My Department is conscious of the need to adapt existing policies and to develop new policies as new research or learning becomes available. The National Council for Special Education has a formal role under Section 20.1(j) of EPSEN to advise the Minister 'in relation to any matter relating to the education of children and others with disabilities'. I have now requested the NCSE to prepare Policy Advice on the Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The NCSE have commissioned research which will not be finalised until mid to late 2014 and I expect that this research will inform much of the work in preparing the policy advice. Accordingly it is not expected that the report will be finalised until early 2015. The Deputy will be aware that the Home Tuition Scheme provides funding to parents to provide for education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children with Special Educational Needs including autism awaiting a suitable educational placement. The scheme is not operated in an inequitable manner. Home Tuition is not an acceptable long term alternative to the placement of a child in school. It is, in general, a short term measure available to parents who are unable to identify a placement in school for their child.

The case referred to in the correspondence supplied by the Deputy is one where the parents in question had been advised by the NCSE that a number of placements were available for the children. On this basis, the Home tuition provision was no longer payable. My officials extended the payment period to facilitate the transition of the children into their new school placements.

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