Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
666. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students who have availed of home tuition for mental health reasons for the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12400/26]
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.
The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for:
Pre-School Children with autism who meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria
Children seeking a Special School or Special Class placement
Students, enrolled in schools, with a significant medical condition, which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school
Students, enrolled in schools, with school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety, which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school
Under category d above, 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, NCSE).
The following table outlines the number of applications from 2020-2025 submitted under category d of Home Tuition Grant Scheme where a grant was sanctioned:
|
School Year |
No. of Applications Sanctioned |
|
2020/2021 |
347 |
|
2021/2022 |
387 |
|
2022/2023 |
418 |
|
2023/2024 |
398 |
|
2024/2025 |
515 |
