Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
495. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if persons that provide home tuition are considered employees of his Department or self-employed persons; the role of his Department in deducting income tax, USC and PRSI from the payments made to home tutors; the class of PRSI deducted and paid on their behalf by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32801/19]
View answerThe purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons , are unable to attend school.
It is a condition of the scheme that parents or guardians must source a suitably qualified tutor who is registered with the Teaching Council for the duration of the approved tuition.
Prior to September 2015, the home tutors were paid by the parent(s) from grants paid to them by my Department.
As a consequence of a Revenue audit, my Department agreed to operate the PAYE system on payments to the home tutors. This commenced in September 2015. Since that time, the payment of emoluments to Home Tutors engaged by parents/legal guardians under the Home Tuition Schemes are being made directly on payrolls operated by my Department and are subject to PAYE and other statutory deductions.
Home tutors should ensure that they hold a Certificate of Tax Credits and Standard Rate Cut off point in respect of these emoluments.
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection determined that PRSI Class S applies to the emoluments paid to Home Tutors governed by the Home Tuition Grant scheme.
