Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1268: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application for a home tuition grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will ensure that payments in respect of approved applicants issue without delay in view of the enormous hardship imposed on applicants who have to meet the home tuition charges in advance of payment from the Department and where only one parent can work owing to the special needs of the child. [28699/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to advise the Deputy that home tuition has been sanctioned for the child in question for the 2006/2007 school year and correspondence confirming the sanction issued to the family on 20th September.

Payment of home tuition grant is made retrospectively following receipt of the relevant claim form from the family. My Department makes every effort to ensure that payment issues promptly.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 1269: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the circumstances of persons (details supplied) in County Sligo; if she will ensure that an allocation of home tuition and flexibility to allow them to fully implement their endorsed strategy for school integration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28700/06]

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 which is likely to cause major disruption to their school attendance 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.

My Department considers that school-based education provision is the most appropriate intervention for all children, including those with special educational needs.

The pupil in question is enrolled in a mainstream primary school with five hours resource teaching support. Therefore the pupil concerned does not qualify for home tuition under the terms of the scheme.