Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 May 2023
79. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education if she will address the situation of a late payment from the tuition grant section to a school (details supplied), as this has resulted in staff not being paid on time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21904/23]
View answer87. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education if the home tuition payments being made to a preschool for an autistic pupil (details supplied) have been delayed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22103/23]
View answer93. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education if she will give urgent attention to the case of a pre-school for autistic children which is facing severe difficulties as a result of ongoing delays in receiving payments from her Department (details supplied); the steps she is taking to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22140/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 87 and 93 together.
I am pleased to inform the Deputies that all outstanding payments to the school in question in respect of home tuition have now been processed.
The 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. The terms of this scheme are set out in circular 46/2022 which is available on the Government of Ireland website at www.gov.ie/en/circular/22b2a-home-tuition-grant-scheme-20222023-special-education-component/
Payments to group providers of home tuition, such as the facility concerned, are made directly to the provider on a monthly basis in arrears in accordance with my Department’s policy in this regard. Claim forms are submitted to my Department at the end of the month in which tuition has been provided and every effort is made to process these claims as efficiently as possible to ensure payment is made as soon as possible after the claim form is received from the facility. However, delays may be experienced from time to time if forms are incomplete. I can assure the deputy that every effort is being made to keep any delays to a minimum.
