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Home Tuition Scheme Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 March 2014

Wednesday, 12 March 2014

Ceisteanna (70)

Patrick O'Donovan

Ceist:

70. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding payment to a tutor (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12396/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Deputy will be aware that the 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. Parents engage tutors directly and the grant is paid to the parent either on a monthly basis in arrears or where possible in advance to assist parents cover the cost of engaging a tutor. This affords a degree of flexibility and choice for parents in selecting the most suitable tutor for the purposes of home tuition for their children. Parents/Legal guardians approved for the Home Tuition Grant engage tutors for the duration of the approved home tuition scheme on a self-employment basis and are paid directly by the Department into their own bank account and not the account of the tutor. It is then the responsibility of the parent/legal guardian to transfer the fees received to the tutor.

The position in the case to which the Deputy refers, is that the self-employed tutor has stated that the parent who received the full home tuition grant has not paid the tutor for the tuition provided. The Department has written regarding this matter to the parent and is awaiting a reply to same. However, as the Department had no role in the payment to this tutor, the matter in dispute is between the parent and the tutor.

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