Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 286: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that as part of the initiative Education Programme for Children with Autism which is taking place in July that some principals will not be receiving payment for this work because it is regarded as a new post of responsibility and if he will ensure that this situation is reversed immediately. [25133/12]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 287: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a programme in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5 [25137/12]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 293: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale behind the recent circular from the his Department advising that school principals and school staff who act as overseers for the July school based programme will not be paid for extra work unless they were already in receipt of payment before 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25448/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 286, 287 and 293 together.

The July Education Programme (July provision) allows schools to open for the month of July, to accommodate pupils with severe and profound educational needs, and children with autism. This is in response to concerns that children with autism and severe educational needs can regress over the summer due to the loss of structured learning during the summer months.

In order to facilitate the July Education Programme, four payments are payable to school staff:1. a Preparation allowance (generally paid to Principals),2. an Overseer allowance (generally paid to Principals). 3. an allowance payment to Special Needs Assistants for work on delivery of the programme.4. a payment to teachers for delivering the programme.

While the payment to teachers is being fully maintained, the Preparation and Overseer allowances and the allowance payment to SNAs, fall within the terms of the public service wide review of allowances currently being undertaken by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Given the exceptional circumstances of these allowances, and the potential disruption to planning and delivery of services in the near future, I can advise that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has provided sanction for these allowances to be paid to principals and SNAs for this year. A revised circular will issue from my Department in the coming days to this effect.

If schools decide not to offer July provision, my Department will make home tuition allowances available to the parents of children who would qualify to participate in July provision. This will allow the parents to hire a tutor for 10 hours per week to ensure that the children involved remain in structured education during the month of July.

I am committed to continuing to support the educational needs of all children, and sincerely hope that most schools who have evidence of local demand will continue to offer July provision as a way of supporting those children and their parents.