Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 575: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason two home tutors (details supplied) were not acceptable despite the fact that both work in Enable Ireland a pre-school for autistic children in Kilkenny and had previously worked as home tutors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11627/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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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.

A recent review of a number of applications for home tuition highlighted some cause for concern regarding the qualifications of proposed tuition providers. The Deputy will appreciate that, as this tuition takes place outside of the normal school structure, there is a need to ensure that the tuition providers are appropriately qualified to give educational intervention. 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 TEACCH. Third level qualifications in relevant areas such as psychology may also be appropriate depending on circumstances.

I wish to inform the Deputy that the qualifications of the tutors concerned have been examined and are not acceptable under the terms of the home tuition scheme. It is important to stress that the allocation of tuition hours under the scheme is not at issue in the context of the qualifications of the nominated tutors in this regard.