Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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188. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding home tuition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18918/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to reiterate that the position outlined in earlier responses on this issue is factually correct. The record of the Dáil therefore is accurate and does not require correction.

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 at home. The tuition will therefore be delivered on a 1:1 basis in all such cases. Funding is provided by my Department on this basis. Where parents of children who are eligible for home tuition have sought alternative arrangements to be put in place for the tuition my Department has responded and facilitated by putting arrangements 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. My Department has no contract with these providers and therefore the question of procurement or tendering does not arise.

At the time when a previous question on the issue was addressed my Department had concluded an arrangement with one private commercial organisation which provided group tuition to children in a class type setting. Under that arrangement, payment was made directly to the service provider concerned and was calculated on a group rate basis. The arrangement which at that time was the only exception, was put in place to facilitate the parents of the children in question all of whom had been approved as eligible for home tuition.

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. The Deputy may be aware that the NCSE is at an advanced stage in preparing policy advice on the education of children with autism which will incorporate a review of current state- funded educational provision for children with autism. I expect that the final report, which is to be delivered shortly, will consider the broadest possible range of views and provide recommendations which will assist the development of policy for future years.