Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which July provision is being facilitated in a school (details supplied), including ensuring that parents are not penalised for failing to find a fully qualified teacher for this purpose, in view of the fact that the number of such teachers is very scarce; if he will address the restrictions on who may be hired, considering SNAs are capable of carrying out this work; if he will further address the fact that these restrictions could lead to a family not being able to find a teacher and a child losing out on crucial teaching time; and his views on whether it is fair to have a July provision teacher divided between two children when those two children are in the same family and the tuition cannot easily be split between them where they have different needs. [16196/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that July Provision 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 July Provision for pupils with a severe/profound general learning disability. Where school based provision is not feasible, home based provision may be grant aided.

The school is question has not applied to participate in the scheme. Where a school chooses not to extend their services for July, eligible children in the school will be granted home based July Provision, on application. As the home based provision takes place outside the usual school structure it is important that home tutors are qualified to provide an educational programme. It is appropriate therefore that the qualification standard in the Home Based July Provision generally reflects that required in a school environment.

Home tutors should be fully qualified teachers who are registered with the Teaching Council of Ireland. When it is not possible to recruit a fully qualified teacher then consideration will be given to the engagement of a tutor who is registered with the Teaching Council and has a primary degree (minimum level 7 FETAC) in a relevant area including e.g. psychology. If an SNA meets these standards they can also be considered in this context.

Under the terms of the home based scheme, allocations to siblings are reflective of the school grouping principle. The pupil teacher ratio in school settings can result in one teacher being allocated to a class of six pupils with children of mixed age and ability at the appropriate educational level, primary or post primary. Accordingly, it is considered appropriate, as in a school situation, that a tutor can provide tuition at the appropriate educational level to more than one sibling at that level simultaneously in the home. However, in recognition of the differing needs of some siblings, separate allocations can be considered on a case by case basis. Applications in this regard will require supporting documentation including professional reports from a psychologist or a letter from the principal of the school detailing the existing arrangements currently in place for the respective children and providing sound reasons why they cannot be tutored together in the home.