Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

562. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children who classified under category C of the home tuition grant scheme from 2018-2021 (details supplied); and the expenditure in this category in tabular form. [15087/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

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.

It is a condition of grant funding that tutors engaged by Parents are registered with the Teaching Council of Ireland and vetted by the National Vetting Bureau.

The medical strand of the scheme provides a compensatory education service for students enrolled in schools with a significant medical condition which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school.

Eligibility for the scheme is assessed having regard to, although not limited to, the following criteria

-  The student’s attendance levels during the previous school year.

-  A relevant medical /relevant professional report - a separate report may be requested in some cases if required.

Under the medical strand of the scheme, grant aid is based on a range of between 2 and a maximum of 10 hours tuition per week with the allocation determined by attendance in the previous school year and the educational level of the child.

The Department will also fund home tuition for students with diagnoses of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety where a continued absence from school is required to facilitate appropriate medical or therapeutic intervention with a view to the reintegration of the student in their school. The numbers of children receiving a home tuition grant under these two separate strand of the scheme is set out below for the last three years.