Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2026
138. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the preliminary findings of the inspectorate with regard to the evaluation of 25 autism-specific ELC settings in receipt of the home tuition grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38105/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.
The Home Tuition Grant Schemes are governed by annual circulars which sets out the purpose, eligibility criteria and details of the scheme. Circular 0047/2025 provides information in relation to the 2025/2026 Home Tuition Grant Scheme and can be accessed by clicking on the following link: assets.gov.ie/static/documents/Circular_0047-2025_Home_Tuition_Grant_Scheme_2025_2026__Special_Education_Component.pdf
The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for:
1. Pre-School Children with autism who meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria
2. Children seeking a Special School or Special Class placement
3. 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
4. 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 categories (1) and (2) above, autistic children are eligible to receive home tuition if they are:
• Aged between two and a half years and three years of age
• Aged between three and four years of age and unable to access a place in an early intervention class, as confirmed by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE)
• Over four years of age but will not reach the age of six years during the school year, and for whom there is a professional recommendation for an early intervention placement but who cannot access an early intervention placement, as confirmed by the NCSE
In 2025, my department’s Inspectorate conducted an evaluation of seven of the twenty-five autism-specific ELC settings where they assessed four main areas of enquiry:
• The management and organisation of the setting
• The profile of the children attending the setting
• The quality of learning and assessment
• Parents’ experiences and hopes for their children’s future
The Inspectorate’s overall findings were very positive. A number of recommendations were also identified and these will be considered as part of the ongoing review and development of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme.
