Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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655.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way an individual who has no choice but to avail of the home tuition grant scheme due to a lack of suitable school places in their area can avail of the free education scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[35465/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Home Tuition Grant Scheme is a short-term measure 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 for children for whom a placement in a recognised school is not currently available 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 four categories of home tuition:

1. Home tuition for children with special educational needs and on medical grounds. See: www.gov.ie/en/service/d15f58-home-tuition/#home-tuition-for-children-with-special-educational-needs-and-medical-grounds
2. Maternity-related absences. See: www.gov.ie/en/service/d15f58-home-tuition/#home-tuition-for-students-on-maternity-related-absences
3. No School Place (NSP) Home Tuition Scheme. See: www.gov.ie/en/service/d15f58-home-tuition/#home-tuition-for-children-with-no-school-placensp
4. Children in Care (CIC) Home Tuition Scheme. See: www.gov.ie/en/service/d15f58-home-tuition/#home-tuition-for-children-in-carecic

The Educational Welfare Service is part of Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) and operates under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, a piece of legislation that emphasises the promotion of school attendance, participation, and retention.

A referral for a child without a school place is prioritised by the Educational Welfare Service and an Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) is assigned immediately to support families who are in this situation.

Application forms for the home tuition scheme for children who are temporarily without a school place, who are without an offer of a school place and who are actively seeking a school placement in a recognised school, are available from the local Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) or the appointed social worker. The Educational Welfare Service can assist a family when applying for home tuition if the child is without a school placement. Home tutors are engaged by the parents/guardian of the child who is to receive tuition and the tutor has no contractual relationship with the Department of Education.