Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding home tuition in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; if same will be extended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55728/12]

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. Home Tuition is provided as an interim provision only and should not be regarded as an optional alternative to a place in school.

As home tuition takes place outside the school environment it is a general condition of the scheme that the tuition provider where possible should be a qualified teacher who is registered with the Teaching Council. Where this is not possible, as in the case in question, approval may be given for a tutor with alternative qualifications to undertake the tuition. In such circumstances approval for nominated non qualified tutors is made on a temporary basis. In case referred to by the Deputy the child is awaiting placement and the tuition has been approved until the end of the school year. However the tuition provider is not a qualified teacher and therefore her approval is temporary pending a qualified teacher being sourced. In the event that it remains problematic to source a qualified teacher my Department in consultation with the family in question will consider an extension of the current tutor arrangements.