The home tuition scheme is intended to provide instruction for pupils with serious medical ailments which cause major disruption to their attendance at school on a continuing basis.
Home tuition is sanctioned where a child cannot attend school at all or where the child is absent for a significant proportion of the school year due to illness.
Home tuition was sanctioned for the pupil in question in the 1998-99 school year because of her significant period of absence during the previous school year.
An application for home tuition for the child in question in respect of the 1999-2000 school year was considered by my Department. However, an allocation of tuition was not considered warranted on this occasion as the child had a good attendance record during the course of the 1998-99 school year and was progressing satisfactorily.
In view of the new information supplied by the Deputy in relation to the child's current situation, I have instructed my officials to restore home tuition, as appropriate, to this child.