Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 April 2014

Tuesday, 15 April 2014

Questions (234)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

234. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to change the qualifying criteria for July provision to include children with Down's syndrome regardless of their IQ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17520/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that July Provision is available to all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism that choose to extend their education services through the month of July. My Department also provides July Provision for pupils with a severe/profound general learning disability. Where school based provision is not feasible, home based provision may be grant aided. It is not proposed at this time to extend the July Provision scheme to further disability categories.

The NCSE is currently preparing policy advice on the education of children with autism which will include a review of the July Provision programme. I expect that the final report, which is to be delivered at an unspecified date in the Spring of 2015, will consider the broadest possible range of views and provide recommendations which will assist the development of policy for future years.