Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 2 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 1

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

184 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of an appeal in respect of extra home tuition hours lodged by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if an early response to the appeal will be expedited; the reason for the delay in releasing files to the person under the Freedom of Information Act; if all of the information requested will be released without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28912/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

At present the child in question attends an Enable Ireland pre-school for 13 hours per week. My Department initially sanctioned ten hours home tuition per week in June. The parent subsequently submitted supplementary professional documentation that was considered by the national educational psychological service. As a result an allocation of ten hours home tuition per week was recommended for the 2003-2004 school year. The family was informed of the decision on 1 September. A decision was also taken at the time to provide retrospective sanction of home tuition for July.

Letters of appeal have since been received from the parent requesting an increase of home tuition to a minimum of 30 hours per week. As already indicated, following an examination of the relevant supporting documentation by NEPS, ten hours home tuition per week was recommended and sanctioned.

My Department has considered a request that the allocation of home tuition be backdated to 21 March, the date of application. As the home programme was in place during the period my Department has agreed, as an exceptional measure, to sanction the home tuition for the period from 21 March to 6 June. A letter to this effect will issue to the family shortly.

My Department will process the Freedom of Information request as soon as possible and a response will issue to the person in question thereafter.