Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an appeal regarding home tuition hours for persons (details supplied) will be granted. [7949/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The aim of the Home Tuition Scheme 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 seeking an educational placement. Provision is also made for early educational intervention for children with autism.

Home Tuition Grant allocations to siblings generally reflect the school grouping principle. This is where one teacher is allocated to a class of six pupils at the appropriate educational level, primary or post primary. Within State-funded classes, differentiated needs are accommodated through a differentiated approach in teaching.

It is expected that Home Tutors should have the capacity to develop and deliver tuition in an environment which includes other children.

However, the Department recognises that it may be difficult to cater for the significant differentiated educational needs of some siblings through a differentiated approach in tuition at home.

To provide for this, my Department grants siblings over 3 years of age a combined allocation of 30 hours per week which includes a 50% increase on the standard home tuition allocation.

My Department understands that certain circumstances of an exceptional nature may arise which justify separate allocations to be made to siblings.

Applications in this regard will require supporting documentation including professional reports from a psychologist detailing the existing arrangements currently in place for the respective children and providing sound reasons why the needs of both children can only be met if they are separated and tutored individually.

An application for separate allocations has been received from the parents of the children referred to by the Deputy, which is currently under consideration in my Department.