Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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200. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pregnant teenagers who availed of the home tuition scheme during each of the past five years; the number of these students who applied scheme having been asked to not attend their school by principals or teaching staff. [42484/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. I have asked my officials to compile the information and to forward it to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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201. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who availed of the home tuition scheme during each of the past five years. [42485/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that the purpose of the Home Tuition Scheme administered by the Special Education Section of the Department of Education and Skills is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme also provides a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs awaiting a suitable educational placement and for early intervention for children with autism.

The Home Tuition Scheme administered by the Schools Division of the Department of Education and Skills provides for children who do not have a school place, and are without the offer of a school place in a recognised school, and for whom a school place is being actively sought in a recognised school, or on whose behalf an appeal has been lodged and where a determination is awaited in respect of an expulsion or refusal to enrol taken under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998.

Home tuition is also provided under this scheme to students who are enrolled in a recognised school at post-primary level studying at junior or senior cycle and whose education may be disrupted due to pregnancy.

The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the number of children who availed of the home tuition schemes during each of the past five years is not readily available. However, my officials are currently compiling this information, which will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.