Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2013
223. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason parents with children attending a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 are being requested by the higher education officer to refund funds already spent on tuition which was not delivered through a 1:1 ratio under the special needs and tuition grants and the action he will take regarding same. [19883/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the Home Tuition Scheme operated by my Department is designed to support children who are not in a position to attend school and, because of this, it is generally the case that the tuition is provided at the child's place of residence. In the majority of cases therefore, there will be 1 child in receipt of an individualised educational programme on a 1:1 basis. Funding is provided by my Department on this basis.
There is one exception to this whereby the Department has an arrangement in place with a private commercial organisation which provides group tuition to children in a class type setting. However, payment in this case is made directly to the service provider and is calculated on a group rate basis. In relation to the school to which the Deputy is referring, there is no such arrangement or agreement in place. However, I can tell you that officials at my Department are currently liaising with the parents in question in an effort to resolve the matter.
