Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, and Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion, Michael Moynihan, have announced a funding increase for iScoil, aimed at expanding home tuition for children who have been out of school for extended periods due to mental health challenges. The additional support will help more students re-engage with learning and progress toward returning to mainstream education.
iScoil is an autonomous online learning community that provides flexible, adaptive, and inclusive education for young people aged 13 to 16 who have been out of school for six months or more. The platform uses digital technologies and personalised teaching methods to help students regain confidence, build emotional readiness, and maintain connection with learning in preparation for reintegration into traditional school settings.
The new investment will add 70 additional places, raising the total capacity to 250 students in 2026, and increasing the annual funding for the service to €1.2 million. Minister Naughton highlighted the importance of supporting children with mental health challenges, noting that the funding will allow iScoil to provide flexible and personalised learning that helps students return to mainstream education successfully. Minister Moynihan emphasized iScoil’s vital role in the education ecosystem, supporting families and helping children experiencing mental health difficulties re-engage with school.
iScoil operates under Section 14 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, offering education to children outside recognised schools. The Department of Education and Youth has steadily increased funding over the past two years, growing capacity from 80 to 180 places, with the additional 70 places coming in 2026. The programme is designed for students facing barriers such as school reluctance, anxiety, or other mental health needs, where flexible and personalised learning approaches are essential.
Access to iScoil is available through referral by Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) educational welfare officers. The organisation also collaborates with agencies, youth services, and School Completion Programmes to provide blended learning centres, which combine online instruction with in-person support in safe, youth-friendly environments. Support workers in these centres monitor attendance, engagement, and progress, receiving training from iScoil to ensure high-quality guidance and assistance for students.
