Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for home tuition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5260/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. 

Over 1,400 families were supported by Home Tuition grant funding under the various Department Scheme in the 2020/21 school year with an allocation of approximately €17million. 

The criteria for eligibility of the scheme are;

- Students enrolled in a school, with a significant medical condition which has, and is likely to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school on a continuing basis. 

- Children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement

- For early educational intervention for children with autism.

Home tuition is not an alternative to a school placement and is provided in very limited and specific circumstances. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.

Under the Home Tuition Scheme all references to “schools” or “school placements” refer to State schools which are recognised under Section 10 (3) of the Education Act 1998.

This requirement is set out in Section 9 of the Home Tuition Circular 0038/2021 which is available at www.gov.ie/en/service/d15f58-home-tuition/ 

As the child referred to by the Deputy is not enrolled in a state school, i.e. a school recognised under Section 10 (3) of the Education Act 1998, the application is not eligible to be considered under terms of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme.