Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the position of the Department of Education and Science on home tuition for the children as referred to by the Senator.

The Department of Education and Science considers that school-based education provision is the most appropriate intervention for all children, including those with special educational needs, and has discontinued the practice whereby children who are in full-time education provision would also be able to avail of home tuition grants.

The children referred to by the Senator are on the autistic spectrum and are enrolled in special schools or special class placements, or are attending mainstream schools with additional resource teaching and special needs assistant supports as appropriate. Recent years have seen a major expansion in school-based provision for children with autism. Current provision includes 162 special classes for children with autism, attached to special and mainstream schools, 15 pre-school classes, five special classes for children with Asperger's syndrome and 12 standalone facilities providing an applied behavioural analysis specific methodology. Approval has also been given for the establishment of a further two such facilities.

The newly-established National Council for Special Education, and its team of more than 70 special educational needs organisers, is also working across the country to ensure that new services are put in place where needed so that children with special needs, including those on the autistic spectrum, have access to appropriate school-based provision.

The decision to discontinue home tuition grant was on the basis that the educational needs of these pupils can be best met in their individual schools. It is open to any parent who may have a concern about the educational supports being delivered in the schools to discuss his or her concerns with the school in question.

I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to clarify the position of the Department of Education and Science in this matter.