Vol. 544 No. 3
467 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will change the situation where parents must employ special teachers in respect of disabled children and deal with their employment conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28741/01]
The situation to which the Deputy refers arises only in relation to the provision of home tuition services and only then when the teacher recruited to provide the service is not a serving teacher.
Home tuition services are designed to address the educational needs of children who, because of their circumstances, are unable to attend school on a regular basis. Where the teacher employed to provide the home tuition service is a serving primary teacher, arrangements are made within my Department for payments to issue directly through the primary teachers' payroll. However, where the teacher recruited to deliver the service is not a serving teacher there is no current mechanism through which payments in respect of home tuition can be centrally addressed.
I am aware of the concerns raised by the Deputy in relation to this matter. I am hopeful that these concerns can be addressed in the context of the restructuring of my Department's role in the special education area which will arise with the establishment of the national council for special education.
