Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the implementation of recommendations at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39007/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for the provision of a range of educational services at local and national level for students with special educational needs. In particular, its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) co-ordinates special needs education provision at local level and arranges for the delivery of special educational services. The SENOs act as single points of contact for parents of students with special educational needs. Another specific function of the SENO is to identify appropriate educational placements for children with special educational needs. SENOs are a valuable source of support to parents who are actively sourcing a placement for their children. The NCSE has been fully engaged in securing placement options for the child in question.

The purpose of the Home Tuition Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service 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 educational intervention for pre-school children with autism.

Home tuition was approved for the child in question by my Department from the start of the school year until the end of September 2011 as there was no available placement. Home Tuition was subsequently extended until 14th October 2011, for the purpose of completing the enrolment process. My Department subsequently extended the provision of home tuition until 9th December to facilitate transitional arrangements regarding the enrolment of this child in the school in question.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the Board of Management of the school in question committed to fully implementing the recommendations of both the HSE and a subsequent DES report which was prepared subsequent to a review of the school by a member of the Department's inspectorate and an Educational Psychologist. My Department has remained in regular contact with the Principal and the Board of Management of this school. The Board of Management of the school has advised DES that all recommendations have been or are being implemented in full. My Department will continue to closely monitor progress in this regard.