Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills 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]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The 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.

* 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.