Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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125. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider extending the eligibility of the July Educational Programme to children diagnosed with Dyspraxia (details supplied). [28825/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that the July Education Programme is available to all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism that 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. Where school based provision is not feasible, home based provision may be grant aided. It is not proposed to review the expansion of the eligibility criteria for the programme at this time.

I have recently requested the NCSE to prepare Policy Advice on the Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The National Council for Special Education has a formal role under the EPSEN Act to advise the Minister in relation to any matter relating to the education of children and others with disabilities.