Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 475: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of applications for home tuition received in her Department since August 2006; the number of staff allocated to the processing of those applications; the average processing time of applications; the number of applicants approved home tuition, by category; the number of applicants who have been refused home tuition, by category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36350/06]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when an application for home tuition in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was received in her Department; the length of time it will take to be processed; when a decision will issue on it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36351/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 475 and 476 together.

My Department has received approximately 530 applications for home tuition for the current school year, 470 of which have been processed and a decision conveyed to the applicants. The remaining 60 applications are a combination of recently submitted applications and applications for which additional information was requested to further process. I can assure the Deputy that my officials in my Department make every effort to ensure all applications for tuition under the terms of the scheme are processed as quickly as possible. In this regard the section is staffed by 2.7 posts with additional clerical support on a temporary basis. In addition, a number of other officials process home tuition payments as part of the general payments work.

An application for home tuition for the pupil referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on 30th August 2006. My officials requested additional information in support of the application and the decision was conveyed to applicant in question on 24th October 2006.