John McGuinness
Ceist:141 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science if applications from parents of children with autism for home tuition grants for July 2002 will be approved without delay. [12159/02]
Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.
My Department has received requests for home tuition for the month of July from the persons referred to by the Deputy.
My Department makes funding available for the extension of education services through the month of July for children with autism. The request to which the Deputy refers is being considered in this context. My officials will be in contact with the persons in question as soon as possible.
John McGuinness
Ceist:142 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science the facilities which are being put in place or are planned to cater for the children with ADHD attending the school of the Holy Spirit, Kilkenny; if an assessment has been carried out recently; and his views on the matter. [12160/02]
The school in question is a special school which caters for emotionally disturbed pupils of primary school going age. The staffing consists of a principal and six assistant teachers with the support of ten special needs assistants.
The term emotional disturbance includes pupils with behavioural and conduct disorders as well as those with emotional disturbance. These children are treated by a psychiatrist or psychologist for conditions such as neurosis, childhood psychosis, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder.
The development plan for the national educational psychological service agency envisages that at least six educational psychologists will be appointed to counties Carlow and Kilkenny. The current establishment is 1.5 psychologists. It is not possible at present to include the school attended by the named pupil in the list of those served by NEPS.
However, I am fully aware of the concern being felt by schools and parents who require psychological support before NEPS can extend to include their areas. Last summer I therefore announced an initiative whereby funding is being made available to schools to purchase assessment services from suitably qualified private psychologists. This scheme is known as the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments. Details of this scheme were circulated to all schools and are also available on my Department's website.
The school mentioned by the Deputy may avail of this scheme and NEPS will bear the cost of the assessment.