Written answers

Tuesday, 29 June 2010

Department of Education and Science

Special Educational Needs

10:00 am

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 599: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the reason a payment for the July home education programme will not be paid until 11 November, when in previous years it was paid in August; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28188/10]

Photo of Seán PowerSeán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 605: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the reason the July education programme grant for special needs students is not being paid out until the 11 November 2010 instead of August; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28324/10]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 599 and 605 together.

The July Education Programme caters for pupils with autism or severe or profound general learning disability. It is available to all special schools and mainstream schools with special classes catering for children with autism. Where school-based provision is not available, parents may apply for home-based tuition. There has been a steady increase in the number of schools offering the programme since its introduction. Applications this year have increased by approximately 20% in comparison to 2009 to almost 2,100.

In 2009, in order to improve the service to parents and schools, a common pay date was introduced, for both school-based and home-based programmes. In 2010, the common pay date has been changed from 30 September, as in 2009, to 11 November.

This decision was made after consideration of available staffing resources within my Department.

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