Ms Lorraine Dempsey:

No. That 70%:30% split is based on the normal July provision summer programme, which in previous years was only accessible to children with autism and children with severe to profound learning disabilities. It was a much more restrictive and discriminatory scheme. What normally happens is that 70% of children avail of home-based provision because not enough schools are in a position to open up during the month of July to provide the extended year scheme. The Minister, Deputy McHugh, said that last year some 230 schools participated - out of 650 eligible schools - and the current number that have opted in to participate this year is 200 schools. There are more than 4,000 schools in the State. There are mainstream national and post-primary schools that have got the staff together and that have a grouping of children who would otherwise qualify except for the fact they are in mainstream primary schools and are not in a special class.