Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports available for pathological demand avoidance sufferers autism spectrum (details supplied); and the supports in place for persons that do not qualify for home tuition having been diagnosed with autism. [15816/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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My Department’s preferred approach is that all children with Special Educational Needs are educated in school settings where children may have access to fully qualified teachers, individualised education programmes, special needs assistants, school curriculum with the option, where possible and appropriate, of full or partial integration and interaction with other students.

Where the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) confirm that a school placement is not available for a child with Special Educational Needs my Department provides for a compensatory educational service through the Home Tuition Grant Scheme, as an interim measure, until a placement is available.  Home Tuition is not an optional alternative to a school placement.

The July Education Programme (or July Provision Grant Scheme) provides funding for an extended school year for children, enrolled in recognised schools, with a severe/profound general learning disability and/or children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Under this scheme the school year of recognised schools is extended by four weeks for eligible pupils. Where school-based provision is not feasible, home-based provision may be granted.

Where parents choose to educate their children in places other than recognised schools they have made a decision not to avail of recognised schools. As a result they are not eligible to avail of resources, including the July Education Programme, which they may have accessed through enrolment in a recognised school.