Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 November 2021
110. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education the number of children with special needs in receipt of home tuition for the 2021-2022 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53445/21]
View answerThe purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is 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 not an alternative to a school placement and is provided in very limited and specific circumstances. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.
The figures given in the table below are in respect of children who were in receipt of home tuition for a period of time during the year in question.
Special Educational Needs Home Tuition Scheme
This strand of the Home Tuition Scheme provides funding towards a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs for whom such a placement is not available. The scheme also provides for early educational intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) ,who meet the scheme’s criteria, aged from 2.5 - 5 years before they start in school.
Children aged 4 years and over, including those with ASD, may enrol in primary placements (including special class and special schools placements). All children must be enrolled in the primary school system, whether through placement in mainstream classes, in special classes or in special schools in the September prior to their sixth birthday.
In such circumstances the NCSE will actively engage at local level with schools, Patron Bodies and the families to ensure that suitable places are provided as soon as possible.
If, following completion of that work, the NCSE has not been able to establish the required school placements it can activate the provisions contained in section 37A of the Education Act 1998 if required.
Medical Home Tuition Scheme
This strand of the Home Tuition Scheme provides funding towards a compensatory educational service for students, enrolled in schools, with significant medical conditions which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school.
In exceptional cases the Department will provide home tuition applications on behalf of students with diagnoses of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety which causes major disruption to their attendance at school. This exception will only apply where a continued absence from school is required to facilitate appropriate medical or therapeutic intervention with a view to the re-integration of the student in their school.
No of children in receipt Home Tuition Funding 19/20, 20/21, 21/22 (As of the 28/10/21)
|
2019/20 |
2020/21 |
2021/22 @28/10/2021 |
|
|
Age 2.5yrs – 6yrs (Special Educational Needs) |
731 |
775 |
422 |
|
Age 6yrs+ (Special Educational Needs) |
79 |
86 |
35 |
|
Medical |
277 |
227 |
45 |
|
Mental Health |
365 |
346 |
71 |
I have attached my Departments Circulars 0038/2021 , which sets out the details of the tuition schemes above.
