Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2012
305. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 322 of 6 November 2012, if he will publish the Departmental review or assessment of the success of a school programme (details supplied) as part of the July provision scheme and any assessment of the changes to circumstances of children and parents that would prohibit involvement in the scheme at the same level for the coming year. [50013/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI previously advised the Deputy with regard to my Department's July Provision Scheme and how participation in the scheme is an option for all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism or severe to profound general learning disability that choose to extend their education services through the month of July. A review of the scheme is ongoing.
Children with autism in mainstream classes are eligible to apply for home based tuition, but can, in limited circumstances participate in their school's programme if they can be accommodated within the school's existing autistic unit(s) and without incurring the need for additional resources. The number of classes providing the July extension should not exceed the number that is provided for by the school during the normal school year.
I also advised the Deputy previously that the school to which he refers had proposed to facilitate eligible children from mainstream classes by establishing a separate class in the school for the month of July 2012. In view of the mitigating circumstances and the likely incommode to parents, these additional resources were approved to the school in question as an exceptional matter for 2012 only. The school was however, advised that going forward the school based programme would be restricted to children within the specific units/classes, within the school.
