Vol. 562 No. 3
129 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason resource teaching hours and special needs assistants were withdrawn from a person (details supplied) attending Clocharince national school, Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5980/03]
In December 2002, my Department gave provisional sanction for the resources applied for on behalf of the named person. It was made clear in writing that this sanction was subject to verification by the national educational psychological service, NEPS.
My Department's circular letter 8/02 specifies the criteria for allocating resources in relation to a range of disabilities. In this case, the data supplied in professional reports examined by NEPS did not comply with these criteria. It was not possible, therefore, to sanction the allocation of the resources applied for.
130 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps he intends to take to ensure a place is available for a person (details supplied) from September 2003; and if his Department will provide this person with home tuition. [5981/03]
I am aware of the case referred to by the Deputy.
In order to progress this case further an educational needs questionnaire issued to the child's parents which has helped identify her educational needs and provides my Department with their written permission to contact schools and the national educational psychological service, NEPS, on behalf of their child. The advice of NEPS and my Department's Inspectorate has being sought and every effort is being made to find a suitable school placement.
Consideration is currently being given to a recommendation recently received from my Department's Inspectorate concerning the allocation of home tuition for the child referred to by the Deputy. Contact will be made with the family regarding a decision on this matter shortly.
