Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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13. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of the six organisations providing educational services to children with autism; her plans to roll out these services further; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21863/15]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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In reply to a recent parliamentary question the Minister confirmed that six private organisations, Jonix Educational Services, PALS Preschool, the Shine Centre for Autism, Hope Montessori Autism Care Centre, Aurore Child Development Centre and Early Intervention Support Services, EISS, had received between €2.2 million, in the case of Jonix, and €0.54 million for the 2013 to 2014 terms. They provide preschool education to young children with autism. I understand this funding comes from home tuition scheme payments. What is the status of these private organisations? Has a review of their effectiveness been carried out? How were decisions reached regarding the allocation of contracts and funding in each of these cases? I have asked the Minister and her predecessor this question on numerous occasions throughout the history of this Dáil without a satisfactory answer. The Minister recently sent me a detailed answer in written form but it raises many more questions.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Where parents of children who are eligible for home tuition have sought alternative arrangements to be put in place for the tuition, the Department has responded by putting arrangements in place with six private preschool providers which provide group tuition to children in a class-type setting. Each of these providers was selected by the parents. The Department will consider similar arrangements with other private providers should parents of eligible children request this. In recognition of the demand for group arrangements by parents of children who are eligible for home tuition under the scheme, the Department now advises all such parents of the option of entering a group arrangement with other parents of children for whom home tuition has been sanctioned. Parents wishing to enter into such an arrangement must notify the Department in advance for approval. The arrangements must conform to the general terms of the scheme.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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How are decisions made regarding the allocation of these contracts and funding? I have previously asked the Minister about the terms and conditions placed on service providers and about how the tendering process operates. In her lengthy written reply to me, the Minister mentioned a contract given to Jonix in 2008. Other organisations provide similar services, but no contracts were made with them. In her reply of 4 June the Minister also stated that the Department had no contract with preschool providers and it is essentially, as she reiterated today, between the parents and the relevant provider. How can it be the case that more than €3.2 million was paid to service providers who must adhere to certain conditions to qualify when the Minister states that she has no contract with them?

What is the delay in publishing the policy report of the National Council for Special Education which was recommended by the Ombudsman for Children?

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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We do not have any contracts. It is essentially the parents who choose the provider, and the arrangement is made between the parents or the group of parents and the provider. One organisation was agreed on back in 2008 and the rate was calculated on the basis of a collective rate for each group of six children, for whom the Department pays a sum equivalent to 48 hours calculated at the primary qualified rate and 72 hours calculated at the unqualified rate. There is a general procedure for home tuition which is used for these groups. This is the arrangement that has been there for some time and continues under the scheme, so the Department does not have a direct relationship.

The Deputy asked me another question at the end.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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It was on the policy report of the National Council for Special Education which was recommended by the Ombudsman for Children.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Recommendations have been made on special education and changing to a new model. I am not sure whether this is what the Deputy is asking about. We have decided that we do not have enough information, particularly on complex needs, to introduce the new model in September but we will introduce pilots of the model in September. I announced some variation, particularly on hours for children with Down's syndrome. The actual full new model will not be introduced in the next school year.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Written Answers follow Adjournment.