Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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164. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when home tuition hours will be sanctioned for children with autism spectrum disorders in primary schools in view of the fact that schools are in the third week of the school year and children are losing out on valuable tuition hours and teachers are losing out on work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38555/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The Special Education Home Tuition Grant scheme provides funding towards a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement for whom such a placement is not available. The scheme also provides for early intervention for children with Autism.

The application forms and related Circular for this year’s scheme were published on the 8^thAugust 2019. Last year, the forms and circular were published on the 26^thJuly 2018.

Applications forms must be signed by the NCSE local SENO to confirm that no school placement is currently available for a child. SENOs are processing home tuition applications as a matter of urgency.

The Home Tuition Application form outlines that it may take the Department up to 15 working days to process home tuition applications. The vast majority of applications made during the summer have been processed. The Department is prioritising the processing of a small number Home Tuition applications with a view to processing completed applications within a shorter timeframe.

By its nature, the grant is intended to be a short term intervention until the a school placement is available. Home Tutors are engaged by the parents/guardian of the child who is to receive tuition. Home tutors do not have a contractual relationship with the Department.