Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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285. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if grants are available to a group organising home education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16027/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under Article 42 of the Constitution, the State acknowledges that the primary and natural educator of the child is the family. The State guarantees to respect the right and duty of parents to provide, according to their means, for the religious and moral, intellectual, physical and social education of their children. Parents are free to provide education in their homes, in private schools, or in schools recognised or established by the State.

In line with the provisions of Section 14(1) of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, Tusla’s Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service (AEARS) is responsible for the regulation of the provision of education for children in places other than in a recognised school, including for children who are home educated/schooled. This is to ensure that such children receive a certain minimum education.

There is no funding available from my Department, to assist with the cost of education, where parents choose to educate their child in a place other than in a recognised school.