Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to home tuition hours for a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if in view of the fact that the special needs assistant is familiar with the person, the SNA will be allocated the hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26357/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware 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. My Department encourages all eligible schools to participate in this initiative in the interest of the children in question. There has been a steady increase in the number of schools offering the programme since it was introduced in 2001 when relevant schools were circulated with details.

Where school based provision is not feasible, home based provision may be grant aided. As home tuition 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.