Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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551. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her Department's policy on the education of children with autism, which was due to be made available in Spring 2015, and which was recommended by the Ombudsman for Children to be made available in October 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18616/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The National Council for Special Education is currently at an advanced stage in the preparation of policy advice on the education of children with autism.

I expect that the NCSE final report, which is due to be delivered shortly, will reflect the broadest possible range of views, both National and International, and will provide recommendations which will assist the development of policy on the education of children with autism for future years.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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552. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current private commercial organisation providing education services to children with autism; the terms and conditions in place for this private service provider; if she will provide, in tabular form, details of all service providers of education for children with autism; the length and tenure of their contracts; the amount of funding provided to each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18617/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Home Tuition Scheme is designed to support children who are not in a position to attend school and, because of this, it is generally the case that the tuition is provided at the child's place of residence. In the majority of cases therefore, there will be 1 child in receipt of an individualised educational programme on a 1:1 basis. Funding is provided by my Department on this basis.

The current position is that where parents of children who are eligible for home tuition have sought alternative arrangements to be put in place for the tuition, my Department has responded and facilitated by putting arrangements in place with 6 private pre-school providers which provide group tuition to children in a class type setting. Payment in these cases is made directly to the service provider and is calculated on a group rate basis. The arrangements were put in place to facilitate the parents of the children in question. I have arranged for officials from my Department to respond directly to the Deputy on the details requested relating specifically to these group arrangements.