Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.

In 2023, my department spent over €2.6 billion on special education and further progress will be made this year as an additional €113 million will be dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs.

This includes funding to support children with special educational needs in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers, special needs assistants (SNAs) and funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).

In 2024, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 744 teachers and 1,216 SNAs added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean we will have over 41,500 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.

The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs and is supported by my department in delivering these supports.

The department's Home Tuition Grant Scheme provides funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.

The scheme is governed by annual circulars which set out the details, purpose and eligibility criteria. Circular 0024/2023 provides information in relation to the 2023/24 Home Tuition Grant Scheme and can be accessed on gov.ie.

The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for:

• Early educational intervention for children with autism who meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria
• Students with special educational needs seeking an educational placement in a recognised school
• Students, enrolled in schools, with a significant medical condition, or school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety, which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school

In exceptional cases the department will consider home tuition applications on behalf of students with diagnoses of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school. This exception will only apply 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 department has an agreement with iScoil who provide educational support to children as an alternative to provision under the medical strand of the Special Education Home Tuition Scheme.

iScoil is a non-profit online learning service that offers young people a pathway to learning, accreditation and progression. This online learning environment allows young people to re-engage with education, achieve recognised QQI certification and access further education, training and employment opportunities. It is important to note that iScoil are committed to ensuring that all efforts are made to reintegrate children in their school.

A significant body of research shows the benefits of children attending school with their peers, and while home tuition is provided on an interim basis in certain situations, the aim is to support children to re-integrate into school as soon as possible.

My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.