Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

911. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 188 of 14 May 2015 regarding a home tuition scheme, the reason her Department did not offer a similar arrangement to the parents whose children attended the service provider Achieve ABA, a charity established by parents who in April 2011 submitted a proposal to her Department, wherein section 9 of that proposal, Achieve ABA requested that the home tuition grant be paid directly to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20824/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The proposal referred to by the Deputy was submitted to my Department to fund an Academy for Children with Autism for children aged 4 – 14 as an alternative to State funded placements in State funded schools. A decision was taken not to provide the funding to support the proposal as it was not in line with departmental policy on educational provision for children with autism and the applicants were advised accordingly. The applicants were informed of this decision in writing in June 2011.

A section of the rejected submission related to pre-school services and suggested that the Academy would rely on home tuition funding to fund this element of provision if three significant changes could be made to the scheme.

The Deputy is aware the Home Tuition scheme is intended to provide support for children for whom State funded school placements are not available, as an interim measure pending placement. My officials could not consider favourably, as proposed by the applicants, removing this core eligibility criterion by providing Home Tuition funding for children who were ineligible for Home Tuition under the terms of the scheme. Similarly, my officials could not agree to a proposal to guarantee continued funding for such children until the age of 6.

Having rejected the application on these grounds, the third change, which related to direct payment arrangements to the applicants to support the proposed venture did not arise.