Home Tuition Scheme Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2015

Tuesday, 22 September 2015

Questions (1250, 1278)

Paul Murphy

Question:

1250. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills regarding the home school tuition grant, the length of time taken from approval to payment of the grant. [31210/15]

Eoghan Murphy

Question:

1278. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there was a change to the payment grant system that children diagnosed with autism have access to, resulting in applied behaviour analysis home tutors having to wait as long as 12 weeks for payment after the hours of tuition have been delivered. [31348/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1250 and 1278 together.

The purpose of the Home Tuition Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school, for children with special educational needs awaiting a suitable educational placement and for early intervention for children with autism.

The change in the payment arrangements from September 2015 is on foot of a direction from the Revenue Commissioners that payments under the Home Tuition Scheme are subject to statutory deductions at source.

Under the new arrangements, the Department will act as payroll agents only on behalf of the parents/guardians and will issue payment of the home tuition grant directly to the approved tutor via the Department's Non- Teaching Staff payroll.

It is envisaged that the payment claim forms for home tuition will be received at the end of each and every month in which the tuition is provided. The claims received will be processed and paid via the Non-teaching Staff payroll which operates on a fortnightly basis.The Department will endeavour to ensure that the processing time of claims is kept to a minimum.

A detailed information and FAQ on the changes in the payment method for home tutors under the Departments Home Tuition Scheme for children with special educational needs is available on the Department website.