Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the funding that has been allocated to the special autistic class in the Educate Together School at St. Joseph's, Navan Road; and if extra funding will be provided for special needs teachers it requires. [14115/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Sanction was given for one teaching post and two special needs assistant posts for the class referred to by the Deputy. Precise information regarding the level of funding provided for the class in question is not readily available. I have asked my officials to establish what level of funding was provided and whether this was appropriate in the circumstances. This information will be sent to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the procedure for parents to apply for home tuition for special needs children; if it requires making application on an official application form supplied by his Department; if such application forms are currently available; if not, when they will be available; if they will be available in sufficient time and well in advance of 30 June 2004 for parents to fulfil the requirements of completing the form and having it attested by the school and other bodies; the closing date for applications for September 2004; when parents will be notified that home tuition has been approved by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14121/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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A revised home tuition form is being prepared by my Department and will be available to applicants in the near future. Decisions on the grant of home tuition will be notified to applicants without delay.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a special needs assistant will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Louth. [14122/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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My Department received an application for special educational resources, SER, for the pupil referred to by the Deputy on 29 March 2004. SER applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003, are being considered at present. In all, more than 5,000 such applications were received. Priority was given to cases involving children starting school last September and all these cases were responded to at or before the commencement of the current school year.

The balance of more than 4,000 applications has been reviewed by a dedicated team comprising members of my Department's inspectorate and the national educational psychological service, NEPS. These applications are being further considered in the context of the outcome of surveys of SER provision conducted over the past year and the data submitted by schools as part of a nationwide census of SER provision.

The processing of the applications is a complex and time-consuming operation. However, my Department is endeavouring to have this completed as quickly as possible and my officials will then respond to all applicant schools. Pending a response, schools are advised to refer to circular 24/03, which issued in September, 2003. This circular contains practical advice on how to achieve the most effective deployment of resources already allocated for special educational needs within the school.

The detailed arrangements for processing applications for resources, including those for special needs assistants and those received after 31 August last, will be set out in a circular to be issued to schools before the end of the current school year. It is intended, also, that schools due to receive the additional posts will be notified within this time frame