John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 554: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if home tuition has been granted in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5059/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, home tuition is 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. 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.

The inability to attend school regularly is the basis on which an application for home tuition may be made to my Department. Grant approval is based on the application details of each case and a recommendation from the Department's professionals, if required.

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. The pupil in question is enrolled in a mainstream primary school, with five hours resource teaching and the added support of a special needs assistant or SNA. Therefore, under the terms of the scheme, the pupil is no longer eligible for home tuition.