Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 404: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason home tuition has been dropped from persons (details supplied) in County Offaly without consultation; if and when home tuition will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40086/05]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 405: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason home tuition has been dropped from persons (details supplied) in County Laois without consultation; if and when home tuition will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40087/05]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 407: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason home tuition has been dropped from a person (details supplied) in County Offaly without consultation; if and when home tuition will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40089/05]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 408: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason home tuition has been dropped from a person (details supplied) in County Offaly without consultation; if and when home tuition will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40090/05]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 409: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason home tuition has been dropped from a person (details supplied) in County Offaly without consultation; if and when home tuition will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40091/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 404, 405 and 407 to 409, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy is aware, home tuition is primarily intended to provide compensatory instruction for pupils with a medical ailment that is likely to cause major disruption to their attendance at school on a continuing basis. In recent years home tuition has been extended as an interim support for children with a significant special educational need pending the provision of an appropriate school based educational service. Grant approval is based on the application details of each case and a recommendation from my Department's professionals, if required. However my Department considers that school-based education provision is the most appropriate intervention for all children, including those with special educational needs. In this regard, home tuition is only intended as an interim measure until a suitable school placement is secured. In the circumstances, my Department has discontinued the practice whereby children who are in full-time education provision would also be able to avail of home tuition grants.

I can confirm that the children referred to by the Deputy are enrolled on a full-time basis in mainstream schools with appropriate additional resources, or in special classes with enhanced pupil teacher ratios and special needs assistant support. As the pupils are in full-time education, the matter of the continuance of home tuition no longer arises and parents were informed from September of this year onwards that it was being discontinued with effect from 22 December 2005.

I can also confirm that, in order to ensure that the home tuition grants were not withdrawn without consultation and without ensuring that all appropriate support is available to these children in the schools in which they are enrolled, my Department engaged the assistance of the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, and the local special educational needs organisers, SENOs, in this matter. I understand that at this stage the local SENOs have made contact with all of the parents and schools and that a report is being prepared by the NCSE on each individual case and that these reports will shortly be sent to my Department. If these reports indicate that the home tuition grants should be extended for a limited period of time in particular cases to enable the schools in which the children are enrolled to access additional supports, such as training, then my Department will act on those recommendations from the NCSE. However I would stress that I do not envisage circumstances arising whereby home tuition grants would be made available on an ongoing basis to children who are placed in full-time educational settings.