Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 1309: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on whether second level students requiring home tuition for medical reasons are entitled to free education; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the ASTI rate for provision of home tuition is €43.19 per hour; if her Department's hourly rate of payment for home tuition has been set at €27.12 per hour; the basis of such a rate; if her Department is aware of qualified teachers who will provide home tuition at her Department's rate of pay; if she will make available a list of such teachers; if she will review her Department's hourly rate if teachers cannot be recruited at below the ASTI rate for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29037/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Second-level pupils who are absent from school for a significant period of time for medical reasons may be sanctioned home tuition. I can confirm that the issues raised by the Deputy in relation to the hourly rates that currently apply in respect of home tuition grants are currently being considered by my officials.

When these deliberations have been finalised, a decision will be taken in relation to the appropriate hourly rates to be paid in respect of such grants going forward. This decision will be communicated to all parents/guardians who apply for home tuition in respect of their children, including the person referred to by the Deputy.