Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a home tuition grant was refused in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3847/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that the purpose of the Home Tuition Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service 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 and also to provide early educational intervention for pre-school children with autism. I wish to clarify for the Deputy that home tuition was not refused in respect of the child in question. An allocation of 20 hours per week has been approved until the end of June 2012.

As home tuition takes place outside the school environment my Department's preference is that the tuition provider be a qualified teacher. Where this is not possible approval may be given for a tutor with alternative qualifications to undertake the tuition. In such scenarios approval for nominated tutors is made on a temporary basis pending a qualified teacher being sourced. In the case to which the Deputy refers the initial tutor nominated was not qualified and therefore was only approved for a limited period. This period has been now been extended.