Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 65: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to ensure that a person (details supplied) who has been providing home tuition in respect of a young person is paid the appropriate tuition rate, which in this respect for a fully qualified teacher is €41.99 per hour; if she will ensure that this person who is owed payments in respect of the months of July, September and October 2010 is immediately paid, as this person has paid taxes due on the basis of the amounts due in respect of the hours provided; if this payment will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43434/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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2057The 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.

Parents engage tutors directly; the grant is paid in advance to the parent on a twice yearly basis, where possible, or monthly in arrears where several tutors provide tuition to the same child. The parents use this grant to pay their selected tutor directly. This affords a degree of flexibility and choice for parents in selecting the most suitable tutor for the purposes of home tuition for their children.

Only teachers who are registered with the Teaching Council of Ireland and have educational qualifications appropriate to the sector in which they are providing tuition are eligible for payment at the qualified rate.

My officials are investigating the matter raised by the Deputy and anticipate that payment will issue shortly.