Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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574. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a child (details provided) will be provided with home tuition support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23681/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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.

The Department of Education operates four categories of home tuition:

1. Home tuition for children with special educational needs and on medical grounds. gov - Home Tuition (www.gov.ie)

2. Maternity-related absences gov - Home Tuition (www.gov.ie)

3. No School Place (NSP) Home Tuition Scheme gov - Home Tuition (www.gov.ie)

4. Children in Care (CIC) Home Tuition Scheme gov - Home Tuition (www.gov.ie)

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.

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. 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.

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. 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.

The Department does not have a record of having received an application for Home Tuition in relation to the person referred to.