Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2024
319. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if she will, as a matter of urgency, be ‘requiring’ schools in north Kildare to accept a child who has not been successful in being awarded a school-place in first year and other years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6481/24]
View answerIt is an absolute priority of my 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. 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 and children receiving a place further away than they can travel to.
The Educational Welfare Service (EWS) 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 EWS is a statutory service and its primary role is to ensure that every child either attends school regularly or otherwise receives a certain minimum education and to ensure and secure every child’s entitlement to education.
The Educational Welfare Service can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school placement for their child. Referrals to the Educational Welfare Service may be made throughout the school year. Once a referral is made to the Educational Welfare Service in respect of a child or young person with no school place, it will remain an open case until such time as a school place is offered and accepted.
The Home Tuition Grant Scheme is also 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. 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.
