Written answers
Tuesday, 20 May 2025
Department of Education and Skills
School Admissions
Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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402. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps her Department will take to ensure that a child (details supplied) can access a suitable educational setting for the remainder of the 2024/2025 academic year, as well as for the upcoming 2025/26 academic year. [25128/25]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
The availability of places is a matter for each individual school in the context of their Admissions legislation. My Department has shared data with Tusla in relation to available places in each of the school planning areas to assist them in this task.
In addition to this, 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:
- Home tuition for children with special educational needs and on medical grounds - www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/home-tuition/#home-tuition-for-children-with-special-educational-needs-and-medical-grounds
- Maternity-related absences - www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/home-tuition/#home-tuition-for-students-on-maternity-related-absences
- No School Place (NSP) Home Tuition Scheme - www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/home-tuition/#home-tuition-for-children-with-no-school-placensp
- Children in Care (CIC) Home Tuition Scheme - www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/home-tuition/#home-tuition-for-children-in-carecic
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. 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 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.
If the parent/guardian of the child requires further advice or guidance at this time, they should email the regional TESS office for Co. Waterford at tess.se@tusla.ie or phone 059 – 9129503.
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