Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 187: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will sanction full-time home tutor service in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [19826/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy will be aware that my Department's 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 and also to provide early educational intervention for pre-school children with autism.

The child to whom the Deputy refers is currently in receipt of home tuition. Allocation of home tuition for the next school year will be subject to applicants meeting the eligibility criteria. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has advised that a school placement is available for the child in question from September and the parent should liaise with the NCSE in this regard.

The Deputy will be aware that the NCSE is responsible for the provision of a range of educational services at local and national level for students with special educational needs. In particular, its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) co-ordinates special needs education provision at local level and arranges for the delivery of special educational services. The SENOs act as single points of contact for parents of students with special educational needs. Another specific function of the SENO is to identify appropriate educational placements for children with special educational needs and SENOs are a valuable source of support to parents who are actively sourcing a placement for their children.