Home Tuition Scheme Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 November 2014

Wednesday, 12 November 2014

Questions (152)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

152. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 856 and 857 of 4 November 2014, the different approach adopted by her Department in paying millions of euro to just one private commercial organisation as part of providing home tuition for children with autism; and the approach adopted by her Department towards others which is clearly illustrated in a letter from her Department on 1 November 2010 (details supplied). [43379/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The letter of 1 November 2010 was sent in response to a letter dated 22 October 2010 received in the Department on 28th October.

The Department's response made it clear that the Department would not consider entering into arrangements with third parties regarding the approval of individual tuition for children with special needs. This remains the position today. Applications for and approval of Home Tuition are matters for the parents of children and the Department and not for third parties.

This does not mean that the Department would not facilitate parents of children who are eligible for Home Tuition who, having secured the approval of the Department, wished to enter an arrangement with a private provider and to have payments, normally due to eligible parents, made directly to that provider by agreement and at a group payment rate.

The Department's approach to the separate scenarios are not directly comparable.