Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 469: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will review the decision to refuse home tuition for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in view of the special circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36288/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to provide education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting a suitable educational placement.

I recently advised that as there is an educational placement available for the child concerned he does not qualify for tuition under the terms of the scheme. Officials in my Department have been advised in recent days of the intention of the child's family to relocate and it is in this context that the decision not to grant tuition under the scheme has been appealed.

A specific function of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is to identify appropriate educational placements for all children with special educational needs. The family concerned has been advised to contact the relevant SENO in this regard as eligibility for tuition under the terms of the scheme will be determined by availability of placement in the new location.