Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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93. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if professionals other than teachers registering with the Teaching Council in order to comply with Circular 0006/2013 home tuition scheme 2013-2014 are only permitted to be registered as such for a limited period of time. [10080/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As home tuition takes place outside the usual school structure it is important that home tutors are qualified to provide an educational programme. It is appropriate therefore that the qualification standard in the Home Tuition Scheme generally reflects that required in a school environment.

The qualification requirements for tutors providing home tuition to children have not changed. It remains the case that home tutors should be fully qualified teachers. When it is not possible to recruit a fully qualified teacher then alternative appropriate third level qualifications may be acceptable.

From this year, my Department requires that an applicant for a position as a home tutor be registered or have applied for registration with the Teaching Council of Ireland, the body with statutory authority for the recognition and registration of teachers.

A tutor with acceptable third level qualifications will be considered for registration in line with the standard Teaching Council criteria. Under the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009 a person may apply for registration as a teacher in Primary, Post primary, Further Education, Montessori and other categories. Enquiries regarding applications for registration as a teacher should be made directly to the Teaching Council.

Information is not available on the number of persons who applied to register as a teacher with the Teaching Council following publication of Circular 0006/2013.

The requirement that an applicant for a position as a home tutor applies for registration as a teacher with the Teaching Council provides a mechanism to ensure that they undergo garda vetting, as this is part of the Teaching Council process for registration.