Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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161. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria used to decide the children who receive the July provision in their school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12209/15]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is an appeals mechanism in place for a school and-or parent who are not successful with a July provision application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12211/15]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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164. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school has discretion when it comes to deciding which students can participate in the July provision for special needs children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12219/15]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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165. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way her Department decides which schools receive the July provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12220/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 163 to 165, inclusive, together.

School based July Provision is available to all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism and/or those with severe/profound learning disability that choose to extend their education services through the month of July.

Where school based provision is not feasible, home based provision may be grant aided. Schools may choose not to extend their services for July and in such cases eligible children in the school may apply for home based July Provision.

All pupils enrolled in a school with a diagnosis of autism and/or with a severe/profound learning disability are eligible for home based provision if their school is not participating in the school based scheme. Children who do not have either of these diagnosed conditions are not eligible and may not apply for July Provision ; schools have no discretion in this regard.

However children from mainstream classes with a diagnosis of autism are eligible for home based tuition for July and in certain circumstances the school may facilitate these children in the school based scheme as an alternative to the home based option.

Decisions in relation to July Provision may be appealed. Parents and Schools may address appeals directly to the July Provision Unit in the Special Education Section of my Department.