Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 September 2011
161 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a home tuition grant will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24568/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that my Department's home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to provide education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting a suitable educational placement and also to provide early educational intervention for pre-school children with autism.
Allocation of home tuition for the school year is subject to applicants meeting the eligibility criteria. My Department has no record of receiving home tuition applications for the children mentioned.
The Deputy will be aware that the NCSE is responsible for the provision of a range of educational services at local and national level for students with special educational needs. In particular, its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) co-ordinates special needs education provision at local level and arranges for the delivery of special educational services. The SENOs act as single points of contact for parents of students with special educational needs. Another specific function of the SENO is to identify appropriate educational placements for children with special educational needs and SENOs are a valuable source of support to parents who are actively sourcing a placement for their children.
