Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 514: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the cost of providing home tuition grants to children with autism who were attending school in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4317/06]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 522: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children with autism whose home tuition grant is being discontinued following a recent decision of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4422/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 522 together.

The cost of providing home tuition for children with autism who are attending school is estimated at €1 million euro annually. As the Deputy may be aware, the home tuition scheme is primarily intended to provide compensatory instruction for pupils who have a medical ailment that is likely to cause major disruption to their attendance at school. In this context, my Department provides home tuition grants in respect of pupils who cannot attend school at all, or who are absent for a significant proportion of the school year. My Department also sanctions home tuition in cases where children are awaiting a suitable school placement. My Department considers that school-based education provision is the most appropriate intervention for all children 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 number of children with autism who are in a full-time education placement and who are in receipt of a home tuition grant is approximately 100. My Department has written to these pupils' parents confirming its intention to discontinue the practice of sanctioning home tuition grants for pupils who are in full-time education. This has also been communicated to the pupil's school. These cases have also been referred to the local special educational needs organiser, SENO, with a view to ensuring that an appropriate educational response can be provided by the school. In the interim, however, my Department has sanctioned the continuance of the home tuition grant until 10 February to allow further consideration to be given to the pupil's needs.