Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2007
833 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will sanction the re-appointment of a home tuition tutor (details supplied) for 2007-2008 school year, in view of the fact that the child involved is only of pre-school age and has made tremendous progress with the tutor. [9963/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to provide education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting a suitable educational placement.
In 2006 a review of a number of applications for home tuition highlighted some cause for concern regarding the qualifications of proposed tuition providers.
Nominated tuition providers with qualifications other than teaching qualifications were accepted for the first school term to allow time to undertake the review.
Following the review of qualifications, which took place in consultation with my Department's Inspectorate, an extended list of qualifications acceptable under the scheme has been published. This list is available on my Department's website. Aside from recognised teaching qualifications such as the Bachelor in Education and approved Montessori training, the list includes certain qualifications in autism and in applied approaches to teaching children with autism, such as ABA, PECS and TEACH. Third level qualifications in relevant areas such as psychology may also be appropriate depending on circumstances.
In cases where the tuition provider was not approved subsequent to the review a direction was given to parents concerned to recruit a tuition provider with suitable qualifications. However my Department is prepared to facilitate parents/guardians who experience difficulties in recruiting a tuition provider with suitable qualifications by extending the sanction with the current tuition provider until the end of the 2006/07 school year to facilitate the recruitment process. An extension in this regard has been granted to the tutor in question.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the parents/guardians of all children who are sanctioned home tuition for the 2007/2008 school year will be obliged to recruit a suitably qualified tuition provider in line with my Department's Guidelines.
