James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

266. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will examine the way in which the July education programme is paid to recipients later in the calendar year; if the payment date can be brought forward to when the hours in the programme are worked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35059/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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. The programme is also available for pupils with a severe/profound general learning disability.

Where a school chooses not to extend their services for July, all eligible children are granted home based July provision, on application.

This year's common pay date of 2nd November 2017 was well advertised prior to the start of the July Education Programme.

In 2016 over 8,700 children benefited from the July Education Programme. This resulted in approximately 8,300 payments being issued.