Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children in Cork currently availing of the home tuition scheme due to a lack of a school place. [45728/24]

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. It is an interim measure only and is not intended to be an optional alternative to a school placement.

The Department of Education operates four categories of home tuition:

1. Home tuition for children with special educational needs and on medical grounds.
2. Maternity-related absences
3. No School Place (NSP) Home Tuition Scheme
4. Children in Care (CIC) Home Tuition Scheme

Currently in the 2024/2025 school year the number of children in receipt of Home Tuition in Cork is in the range 1-5.

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. The Educational Welfare Service can assist a family when applying for home tuition if the child is without a school placement.

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.

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.