Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 297: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps that have been taken to find suitable replacement school places for the 10 remaining pupils who were attending a school (details supplied), at the time of its closure in June 2007; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that her Department has requested parents to find home tutors, despite the fact that at least some of the parents are vulnerable and marginalised and would not be in a position to either do this or provide back-up support; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the pupils in question are in need of a low pupil/teacher ratio, from qualified teachers, with stimulation required through a variety of activities and services as well as the provision of special assistants; the way a home tutor service matches the quality levels they have received to date; if this unsatisfactory situation is expected to change in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30273/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The school referred to by the Deputy is a four teacher school with approximately 16 pupils. At the start of this school year there were three teaching vacancies out of a total teaching complement of four teaching posts at the school. Due to this exceptional number of vacancies, the school was unable to re-open in September 2007. The recruitment process is in hand and the Board of Management has advised my Department that a person has accepted an offer of principalship in the school. Every effort is being made to expedite the recruitment process for the two remaining staff vacancies with a view to re-opening the school as soon as possible. In the interim, arrangements have been made to accommodate some children in other schools. Where this has not been possible, my Department has offered a home tuition grant to the remaining families.

As home tuition takes place outside of the normal school framework, there is need to ensure that tuition providers are appropriately qualified to give education to the children concerned. A feature of the Home Tuition scheme is that tutors are sourced by the parent. The usual requirement for a home tutor is a fully qualified teacher. However, other qualifications are acceptable depending on the individual needs of the child. A list of relevant qualifications may be sourced on my Department's website on www.education.ie. It is in the interests of children to expect that home tutors funded under this scheme are appropriately qualified tuition providers. Each child in receipt of home tuition is entitled to 20 individual hours tuition per week which is the maximum allowed under the scheme.