Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 July 2024
199. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the number of children, by county, who availed of the home tuition grant scheme 2023-2024 special education component; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27874/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons, are unable to attend school.
The different categories of Home Tuition under the special education component are as follows:
• Mental Health - Students enrolled in schools with school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety.
• Medical - Students enrolled in schools with a significant medical condition.
• Early Intervention - 2.5yr -3yr - Children aged between 2 ½ and 3 years of age with an ASD diagnosis.
• 3+ - Children aged 3 or more years of age who are availing of the early intervention supports available to pupils before they commence in primary school.
• SEN school aged no placement - Children with Special Educational Needs seeking a school placement. Many of these students are sanctioned Home Tuition on a shortterm basis while awaiting for special schools/classes to open or to assist with transition to school placement.
A breakdown of the number of children, by county, who were approved Home Tuition in the 2023/2024 academic year is as follows:
|
County |
Mental Health |
Medical |
Early Intervention - 2.5yr -3yr |
3+ |
SEN school aged no placement |
Total |
|
Carlow |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
14 |
|
Cavan |
4 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
11 |
|
Clare |
12 |
5 |
3 |
14 |
2 |
36 |
|
Cork |
71 |
25 |
10 |
95 |
19 |
220 |
|
Donegal |
9 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
26 |
|
Dublin North |
31 |
15 |
6 |
145 |
42 |
239 |
|
Dublin South |
37 |
14 |
6 |
171 |
38 |
266 |
|
Galway |
17 |
11 |
2 |
31 |
2 |
63 |
|
Kerry |
25 |
11 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
42 |
|
Kildare |
20 |
7 |
4 |
32 |
7 |
70 |
|
Kilkenny |
5 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
16 |
|
Laois |
8 |
5 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
20 |
|
Leitrim |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
|
Limerick |
16 |
14 |
9 |
50 |
0 |
89 |
|
Longford |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
Louth |
7 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
14 |
|
Mayo |
4 |
6 |
2 |
7 |
1 |
20 |
|
Meath |
26 |
7 |
4 |
36 |
0 |
73 |
|
Monaghan |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
12 |
|
Offaly |
23 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
32 |
|
Roscommon |
2 |
6 |
0 |
17 |
4 |
29 |
|
Sligo |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
Tipperary |
18 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
28 |
|
Waterford |
10 |
4 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
21 |
|
Westmeath |
12 |
6 |
1 |
20 |
5 |
44 |
|
Wexford |
6 |
4 |
2 |
16 |
1 |
29 |
|
Wicklow |
14 |
3 |
1 |
8 |
2 |
28 |
|
Total |
397 |
178 |
65 |
682 |
135* |
1457 |
* These include children who are at least 6 years old and are seeking a school placement or are/were transitioning to a school setting. Of the 135 who were sanctioned, many will have found places or transitioned to places during the school year. Separately, 68 of the 135 children are remaining in a group based setting for this school year before they transition. The Department works closely with the NCSE on each of these cases.
