Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
498. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she will investigate whether a person (details supplied) has applied for home tuition for a person, as advised by her Department; if an EWO can engage with the family urgently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27321/23]
View answerMy Department's Home Tuition Grant Schemes provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.
The Home Tuition Grant Schemes are governed by annual circulars which sets out the purpose, eligibility criteria and details of the scheme. Circular 0024/2023 provides information in relation to the 2023/2024 Home Tuition Grant Scheme and can be accessed by clicking on the following link: gov.ie - Home Tuition Grant Scheme 2023/2024 Special Education Component (www.gov.ie)
The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for:
(a) Early educational intervention for children with autism who meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria
(b) Students with special educational needs seeking an educational placement in a recognised school
(c) Students, enrolled in schools, with a significant medical condition, or school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety, which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school
In exceptional cases the Department will consider home tuition applications on behalf of students with diagnoses of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, 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 reintegration of the student in their school.
In relation to applications in respect of students with diagnoses of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety, the principle that home tuition cannot be provided as an alternative to school applies.
Eligibility in exceptional cases is assessed having regard to, although not limited to, the following criteria:
- The student’s attendance levels during the previous school year.
- Psychologist’s/psychiatrist’s report which should
i. Clearly confirm a diagnosis of school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety.
ii. Provide details of medical or therapeutic intervention plans in place with a view to reintegrate the student back into his/her school.
- Details of engagement with the relevant support agencies (e.g. School, National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), Education Welfare Officer (EWO), Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), TUSLA (Child and Family Agency), HSE, National Council for Special Education (NCSE) ).
The SENO has confirmed that no home tuition form was submitted during the 2022/23 school year. The SENO, as well as other NCSE staff, have provided school placement advice to care centre staff, TUSLA staff including the EWO, and the concerned parent. The SENO has offered to consider a home tuition form if submitted.
It is understood that the family was intending to apply to various special schools in the Dublin area as an initial part of the home tuition process.The SENO continues to liaise with the parent and with a newly-assigned EWO, as the previous EWO has recently taken maternity leave. The SENO has shared previous details on the situation with the new EWO, who is now engaging with the parent regarding special school applications and the potential submission of a 2023/24 home tuition form. There is ongoing engagement between the SENO, EWO, and the concerned family. The focus will remain on finding an appropriate special school placement for Teo, and it is hoped that a special school place offer will emerge from these efforts.
