Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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152. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the disparity among home schooled children and children in mainstream education with regard to access to assistive technology (details supplied). [19682/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under Article 42 of the Constitution, the State acknowledges that the primary and natural educator of the child is the family. The State guarantees to respect the right and duty of parents to provide, according to their means, for the religious and moral, intellectual, physical and social education of their children. Parents are free to provide education in their homes, in private schools, or in schools recognised or established by the State.

In line with the provisions of Section 14(1) of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, Tusla’s Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service is responsible for the regulation of the provision of education for children in places other than in a recognised school, including for children who are home schooled. This is to ensure that such children receive a certain minimum education.

Under the Assistive Technology Scheme, as set out by my Department, funding is provided to recognised schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes. The scheme is provided by my Department to supplement the overall approach to providing funding to schools for digital technology and equipment to support children for educational purposes. There is no funding available under the Assistive Technology Scheme for parents who choose to education their child in a place other than in a recognised school.