Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 331: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her policy on July provision of special needs education for children in their homes, in the context of the fact that in 2007 there was some difficulty in confirming that special needs assistants could provide this role and there is concern that a problem may arise again in 2008; and if she will conform that SNAs will be sanctioned to provide July provision of special needs education in 2008 (details supplied). [15214/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The July Education Programme 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. My Department also provides for a July Programme for pupils with a severe/profound general learning disability. Where school based provision is not feasible, home based provision may be grant aided. The Deputy will appreciate, that as the July home based provision takes place outside of the normal school framework, there is need to ensure that tuition providers are appropriately qualified to give education to the children concerned. My Department's qualification preference is for a fully qualified teacher. Where parents cannot recruit a fully qualified teacher, then some alternative qualifications are acceptable including certain Montessori qualifications. Details in this regard are published on my Department's web site.