Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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856. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 194 to 197, inclusive, of 16 October 2014, if she is satisfied with the position of alternative arrangements for providing educational support to children of parents qualifying for the home tuition scheme being available in certain locations in the State and not in others, and the potential inconsistency in approach regarding the provision of support to all children of parents qualifying for the home tuition scheme. [41127/14]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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857. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 194 to 197, inclusive, of 16 October 2014, the reason alternative arrangements for providing educational support to children of parents qualifying for the home tuition scheme are not referenced in the home tuition circular despite a specific claim form having been created by her Department for one of the organisations (details supplied) in question. [41128/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 856 and 857 together.

As advised in response to questions 194, 195, 196 and 197 on 16th October, the alternative arrangements to which the Deputy refers are not a feature of the Home Tuition Scheme and are accordingly not referenced in the annual Home Tuition Circular.

As previously outlined, parents of children who are eligible for home tuition who sought alternative arrangements to be put in place for their tuition, were facilitated and arrangements were put in place with private commercial organisations which provide group tuition to children in a class type setting. Payment in these cases is made directly to the service provider and is calculated on a group rate basis.

It is entirely appropriate that a template form would be developed and provided to the supplier in this and any other case to ensure that the payment process is properly concluded and documented.

The availability of access to the services of private commercial organisations is not the responsibility of my Department. Children who are eligible to access Home Tuition under the terms of the Home Tuition scheme will have this entitlement fully met under the terms of the scheme.

However, where parents of children who are eligible for Home Tuition under the terms of the scheme seek access to alternative arrangements such as those which are the subject of this question, and where such services are available to the parents and eligible children, my Department will continue to respond to such requests with consideration and sympathy and with whatever flexibility can be applied.