Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 623: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 287 of 1 July 2010, if she will instruct her officials to prioritise the payment of the July Education Programme to parents who require home based provision in view of the fact that the costs of hiring a teacher for a month are substantial; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that not all families can afford to be out of pocket between July and November while awaiting the payment of grant aid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30816/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to draw the Deputy's attention to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 673 of 6 July.

As previously advised, this year's common pay date of 11 November was well advertised prior to the start of the July Education Programme. Parents and tutors are, therefore, aware that they will receive grant aid on 11 November and have been able to make their payment arrangements accordingly.

In 2009, 121 schools participated in the July Education Programme. In addition, 1,897 children participated in the home-based programme. Applications this year have increased by approximately 20% in comparison with 2009. The Deputy will appreciate therefore that the major proportion of administrative work is devoted to processing home-based applications.

Staffing resources have been assigned to process payments as speedily as possible. The certainty granted to parents and tutors with a fixed payment date will increase efficiency in this regard, as staff will be able to channels their efforts into processing payments rather that dealing with numerous queries on payment dates.