Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2024
315. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education how long each child now relying on home tuition due to a lack of a school-places is availing of the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6477/24]
View answerIt is an absolute priority of the Department to ensure that every child in the state has access to a school place that is appropriate to their needs and we are continually investing in existing and new schools to ensure that this is the case.
Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in our schools throughout the country, including the completion of over 750 school building projects with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 34 new school buildings. School building projects at construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion. This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.
This capital investment is underpinned by a robust school planning approach that uses a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit Data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is utilised for this purpose.
The Home Tuition Grant Scheme is 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.
Home tuition is provided as an interim measure only for children for whom a placement in a recognised school is not currently available, for a variety of reasons. It is a short term measure, 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.
The Department of Education operates three categories of home tuition:
1. Home tuition for children with special educational needs and on medical grounds. Further detail is available on gov - Home Tuition (www.gov.ie)
2. Maternity-related absences gov - Home Tuition (www.gov.ie)
3. Reasons other than special educational needs and medical grounds
a. Strand 1 offers a temporary educational measure for a child who is temporarily without a school place, or without the offer of a school place and who is a actively seeking a place in a school recognised by the department. No School Place (NSP) Home Tuition Scheme provides interim provision for children without a school place, without the offer of a school place and for whom a place is being actively sought. Provision of tuition under this scheme is for a maximum of 9 hours per week for a period of 12 weeks or until the end of the school year or until the child in question receives an offer of a school place, whichever occurs first.
b. Strand 2 of this scheme is for children in care, who are without a school place due to emergency placement or placement disruption. The CIC Home Tuition Grant Scheme provides tuition for a maximum of 6 weeks for Children in Care for a maximum of 9 hours per week who are without a school place due to emergency placement or placement disruption. The maximum number of weeks of Home Tuition funding available under this scheme in any school year is 6 weeks. If, following 6 weeks the child is still without a school place, an application for the Department’s NSP Home Tuition Grant Scheme may then be made.
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. There are a variety of reasons why a child may be without a school place such as children moving school mid-year, family relocating, expulsion, children receiving a place further away than they can travel to and HTS as a short-term solution until a transport solution is put in place.
In 2023/2024 119 pupils have availed of Home Tuition Strand 1 and Strand 2- 85% have availed of or are availing of 12 weeks of Home tuition with a further 15% availing of an additional 12 weeks of Home Tuition.
The Educational Welfare Service is part of Tusla Education Support Service 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 parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school placement for their child. Solutions will continue to be advanced to ensure that home tuition, where required for reasons of not immediately having a school place, remains a short term intervention. Home tuition is not an alternative to a school placement. Application forms for the home tuition scheme for students who are temporarily without a school place, are without an offer of a school place and are actively seeking a school placement in a recognised school grant scheme are available from the local educational welfare officer (EWO) or the appointed social worker. The Educational Welfare Service can assist a family when applying for home tuition if the child/young person 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.
