Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the choice for students on the autism spectrum who are being educated in mainstream classrooms to take part in summer camps being organised in schools where it is available to them as part of the July provision scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25503/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The purpose of the July Education Programme is to extend the school year for children with Autism and with Severe or Profound General Learning Disabilities to assist participating children in maintaining their learning. The programme is normally run over the month of July. Where school-based provision is not feasible, 10 hours per week home-based provision may be grant-aided to eligible pupils. Summer Camps are not a feature of the July provision scheme, which is intended primarily to ensure the continuation of the child's education during the month of July.

The rate of VAT charged on educational e-books is subject to the requirements of EU VAT law. Under the EU VAT Directive, electronic publications are treated as the supply of a service liable at the standard rate of VAT. There is no option under EU VAT law to exempt e-books from VAT or to apply a reduced rate to them.

This issue is of concern not only in Ireland but in a number of EU member states. The EU Commission published a white paper on the future of VAT with the objective of delivering a future VAT system tailored for the Single Market. The Commission also carried out an extensive consultation process. A summary report of the outcomes of the public consultation process is now available. It is worth noting that the report states that there was an almost unanimous call for equal treatment of printed books and e-books.

I have brought my concerns to the attention of the Minister for Finance in whose Department decisions on this matter will be made. I remain committed to the ICT in Schools Programme which must continue to adapt to take account of new technologies and opportunities to further integrate ICT in teaching and learning and the use of e-books is integral to this process.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to address the increasing numbers of special needs pupils at primary level in view of the curtailment in funding to support such pupils; if he has assessed the impact of the curtailment of special needs assistants on children with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25045/13]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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103. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional students he expects in the primary and secondary system from September 2013; if he will increase the number of special needs assistants and resource teachers to match demand and avoid services to existing students being cut; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25491/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 103 together.

The Programme for Government sets out that education will be a priority for this Government and that we will endeavour to protect and enhance the educational experience of children, young people and students. Approximately 15% of the entire budget of my Department – some €1.3 billion – was spent in support of children with Special Educational Needs in 2011/12. The provision for the 2012/13 school year is in line with expenditure last year and shows that despite the current economic difficulties, the overall level of funding for special education has been retained.

I wish to clarify also that the number of Special Needs Assistants and Resource and Learning Support Teachers has been maintained. Approximately 10,000 posts have been provided for Resource and Learning Support Teachers for the current school year and 10,575 posts have been provided for Special Needs Assistants. These are at the same levels as last year.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including the allocation of resource teaching hours and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of Special Education supports and the staffing resources available to my Department.

All schools were advised to apply to the NCSE for resource teaching and SNA support for the 2013/14 school year by 15th March 2013. The NCSE are currently processing these applications and schools will be notified by SENOs of their resource teaching and SNA allocation for 2013/14 in advance of the coming school year, based on the number of valid applications received. As part of the assessment of applications received for 2013/14, the NCSE will be in a position to consider whether there has been increased demand for supports this year, arising from demographic growth or other factors, and will be in a position to advise of the demand for supports for the coming school year.

The position in relation to the allocations which will be made to schools for the coming school year will be considered in light of the number of applications for support received by the NCSE and the need to remain within the staffing limits set by the Government's Employment Control Framework.