Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding home tuition in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1713/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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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 and also to provide early educational intervention for pre-school children with autism.

The Deputy will also be aware that the National Council for Special Education (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. A specific function of the SENO is to identify appropriate educational placements for children with special educational needs. SENOs are a valuable source of support to parents who are actively sourcing a placement for their children.

All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents can contact SENOs directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.

An application for home tuition on behalf of the child referred to by the Deputy was refused as he does not meet the eligibility criteria. The NCSE confirmed to my Department that there is a placement available for him in a special class for children with autism.