Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a home tuition grant will be restored to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2617/06]

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 to their attendance at school. In this context, my Department provides home tuition grants in respect of pupils who cannot attend school at all, or who are absent for a significant proportion of the school year. My Department also sanctions home tuition in cases where children are awaiting a suitable school placement.

I confirm that the pupil in question is enrolled in a mainstream primary school with appropriate supports. The pupil has also been in receipt of a home tuition grant. My Department considers that school-based education provision is the most appropriate intervention for all children and has discontinued the practice whereby children who are in full-time education provision would also be able to avail of home tuition grants.

My Department has written to this pupil's parents confirming its intention to discontinue the practice of sanctioning home tuition grants for pupils who are also in full-time education. This has also been communicated to the pupil's school. The case has also been referred to the local special educational needs organiser, SENO, with a view to ensuring that an appropriate educational response can be provided by the school. In the interim, however, my Department has sanctioned the continuance of the home tuition grant for this pupil until 10 February 2006 to allow further consideration to be given to the pupil's needs.