Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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311. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a person (details supplied) can avail of home schooling; if so, the steps they can take to apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10599/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 every child being educated in a place other than a recognised school must be registered with Tusla. The process of registration involves assessment by Tusla of the education that is being provided to the child.

This is a legal obligation on the part of parents/guardians who wish to home educate a child who has reached the age of 6 and is not older than 16 orif the child in question is aged 16, has not completed 3 years of post-primary education and has not yet reached the age of 18.

As part of the registration process a parent must complete a Home Education application form with consent of both parents and provide a copy of the birth certificate for the child in question. Once completed this form must be sent to the Registration Section of the Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service and the address is set out below:

Tusla

Registration Section of the Alternative Education Assessment & Registration Service

Brunel Building

Heuston South Quarter, Dublin 8.

As part of the registration process, Tusla will arrange for an Authorised Person to carry out an assessment of the education that is in place or proposed for the child. Further details are available in the Guidelines on the Assessment of Education in Places Other Than Recognised Schools prepared and issued by the Department of Education and Skills. Tusla will contact applicants about the assessment in due course.