Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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549. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 223 of 30 March 2013, the reason her Department made an exception in this case, and entered into an agreement with one private commercial organisation, which involves the annual payment of millions of euro to that organisation, in respect of the home tuition scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18604/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Deputy was advised on April 30th 2013 that the Home Tuition Scheme operated by my Department is designed to support children who are not in a position to attend school and, because of this, it is generally the case that the tuition is provided at the child's place of residence. In the majority of cases therefore, there will be 1 child in receipt of an individualised educational programme on a 1:1 basis. Funding is provided by my Department on this basis.

At that time there was one exception whereby the Department had concluded an arrangement with a private commercial organisation which provided group tuition to children in a class type setting. Payment was made directly to the service provider and was calculated on a group rate basis. The arrangement was put in place to facilitate the parents of the children in question.

There are now similar arrangements in place with 6 private pre-school providers which provide group tuition to children in a class type setting for children for whom home tuition has been approved.