Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
496. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) concerning the allocation of home tuition hours; the status of this case; the timeframe for when a decision will be issued on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12658/24]
View answerThe Department of Education's Home Tuition Grant Scheme provides 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 scheme is governed by annual circulars which set out the details, purpose and eligibility criteria. Circular 0024/2023 provides information in relation to the 2023/24 Home Tuition Grant Scheme – Special Education component - and can be accessed by clicking on the following link: www.gov.ie/en/circular/67f37-home-tuition-grant-scheme-20232024-special-education-component/.
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 a significant medical condition, the principle that home tuition cannot be provided as an alternative to school applies.
Eligibility is assessed having regard to, although not limited to, the following criteria
• Confirmation the student is currently enrolled in school.
• The student’s attendance levels during the previous school year.
• A relevant medical / professional 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, NCSE).
For students enrolled in schools with a significant medical condition grant aid based on a range of between 2 and 10 hours tuition may be approved with the allocation reflecting the level of attendance in the previous school year (i.e. the 2022/23 school year), and whether the attendance was at primary or post-primary level. As a general guide, up to 5 hours may be granted to children at primary level while students at post-primary level may be granted between 2 and 7 hours, and students sitting their leaving certificate examinations may be granted between 2 and 10 hours.
Based on the information provided the child referred to by the Deputy was granted 5 hours Home Tuition per week based on attendance in the previous school year.
This decision was appealed on the 7th of March 2024, and 10 hours Home Tuition was granted as an exceptional measure. The parent was informed of this decision on the 12th of March 2024.
