Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I can assure the Deputy that every effort is made to process all claims for payment as speedily as possible. While there may have been delays in respect of some such payments, my officials are not aware of a general problem in relation to the payment of home tuition claims for the period in question. If the Deputy is aware of a particular case and wishes to provide the relevant details, my officials will be happy to look into the matter further.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) which is operational since 2005 has taken over responsibility for processing resource applications for children with special educational needs, including children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The NCSE, with its national network of over 80 Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs), is providing a structure for the delivery of an effective and speedy education service to children and families coping with disability, including autism, on a daily basis. Working locally on the ground, the SENOs are a focal point of contact for parents and schools. It is open to parents to contact their local SENOs directly regarding their child's special educational need and contact details are available on the Council's website.

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to facilitate the provision of education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting a suitable educational placement. As the pupil in question is enrolled in a mainstream primary school with the support of five hours resource teaching a Special Needs Assistant, he is not eligible for home tuition during the school year.

However eligibility for tuition under the July Education Programme is not directly related. The scheme is available to all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism who choose to extend their education services through the month of July. Where school based provision is not feasible, home based provision may be grant aided. I have requested an official of my Department to contact the family concerned to clarify the position.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the terms and conditions by which home tuition is granted to necessitous students; and the qualifications required by the home tutors. [10814/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to facilitate the provision of education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting a suitable educational placement and also to provide early intervention for pre-school children with autism.

A review in 2006 of a number of applications for home tuition highlighted some cause for concern regarding the qualifications of proposed tuition providers. Following the review of qualifications, which took place in consultation with my Department's Inspectorate, an extended list of qualifications acceptable under the scheme has been published. This list is available on my Department's website. Aside from recognised teaching qualifications such as the Bachelor in Education and approved Montessori training, the list includes certain qualifications in autism and in applied approaches to teaching children with autism, such as ABA, PECS and TEACCH. Third level qualifications in relevant areas such as psychology may also be appropriate depending on circumstances.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 297: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the fact that approval has been granted for home tuition for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath and the fact that all documentation has been supplied to her Department, a qualified special needs assistant will be approved to take up the tutor's position; and if she will have this case expedited. [10815/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to facilitate the provision of education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting a suitable educational placement.

A review in 2006 of a number of applications for home tuition highlighted some cause for concern regarding the qualifications of proposed tuition providers. Following the review of qualifications, which took place in consultation with my Department's Inspectorate, an extended list of qualifications acceptable under the scheme has been published. This list is available on my Department's website. Aside from recognised teaching qualifications such as the Bachelor in Education and approved Montessori training, the list includes certain qualifications in autism and in applied approaches to teaching children with autism, such as ABA, PECS and TEACH. Third level qualifications in relevant areas such as psychology may also be appropriate depending on circumstances.

I wish to inform the Deputy that twenty hours' home tuition per week has been sanctioned for the child in question, subject to the sourcing of an appropriately qualified tutor. As the qualifications of the nominated tutor did not meet the criteria laid down above, the family has been advised to source a suitably qualified tutor to undertake the tuition.