Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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227. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the levels of home tuition support approved for September 2024 versus the levels approved for each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28112/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for Home Tuition September 2024 have not been received to date, these should begin to be submitted to the Department in the coming weeks.

Please find attached data relating to Home Tuition Supports approved for each of the past five years in tabular form.

The Home Tuition Grant Scheme is available 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.

Home tuition is provided as an interim measure only. It is a short term measure, and should not be regarded as an optional alternative to a school placement. Aspects of the scheme differ, depending on the reason for the application.

The Department of Education operates three categories of home tuition:

1. Home tuition for children with special educational needs and on medical grounds. Further detail is available on gov - Home Tuition (www.gov.ie)
2. Maternity-related absences to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for girls at post-primary level who, due to their pregnancy, are unable to attend school. Maternity Related Home Tuition is intended as an interim provision to assist girls to complete their post-primary education.
3. Reasons other than special educational needs and medical grounds
   1. Strand 1 offers a temporary educational measure for a child who is temporarily without a school place, or without the offer of a school place and who is a actively seeking a place in a school recognised by the department. No School Place (NSP) Home Tuition Scheme provides interim provision for children without a school place, without the offer of a school place and for whom a place is being actively sought.
   2. Strand 2 of this scheme is for children in care, who are without a school place due to emergency placement or placement disruption. The CIC Home Tuition Grant Scheme provides tuition for a maximum of 6 weeks for Children in Care for a maximum of 9 hours per week who are without a school place due to emergency placement or placement disruption.