Liam Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 812: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason no response has yet issued to the school of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, with regard to an application for resource teaching. [34230/04]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that my Department has no record of receiving a recent application for resource teaching support for the pupil in question. My Department sanctioned four hours resource teaching support for the pupil on 14 July 2003 and this is the maximum support available for the pupil's disability category. The pupil also has the services of a full time special needs assistant.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 813: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a decision will be made in the case of the home tuition grant application for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16. [34231/04]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The home tuition scheme is primarily intended to provide compensatory instruction for pupils who have a medical ailment that is likely to cause major disruption of their attendance at school. The scheme may also apply to pupils who cannot attend school at all, or are absent for a significant proportion of the school year.

I understand that the pupil in question is enrolled in a mainstream school with the support of five hours per week resource teaching.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department is currently undertaking a review of the home tuition scheme and my officials are endeavouring to have this completed as quickly as possible. A response to the application for home tuition for the pupil in question will be conveyed to the parents as soon as the review has been completed.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 814: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when it is envisaged that the review of the home tuition grant scheme will be completed; and when new applications will be processed. [34232/04]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The home tuition scheme is primarily intended to provide compensatory instruction for pupils who have a medical ailment likely to cause major disruption of their attendance at school. My Department continues to provide home tuition grants to pupils who cannot attend school at all, or are absent for a significant proportion of the school year.

My Department is endeavouring to have the review completed as quickly as possible. In the meantime, existing home tuition grants have been extended until the end of the current school year or earlier, if a school placement has been sourced in the intervening period.