Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 207: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, regarding her Department's decision to discontinue the tuition grant for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath why in the correspondence dated 28 February 2006 furnished to the said child's parents the reasons were not given for taking the decision to end home tuition; if there is mechanism provided for an appeal against this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9874/06]

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

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. My Department asked the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to have a special educational needs organiser to ensure in each case that the child is getting the appropriate support in their school.

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. As the pupil is in full-time education, the matter of the continuance of home tuition no longer arises and the parents were informed from September of this year onwards that it was being discontinued with effect from 10 February 2006.