Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1007. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 811 of 26 May 2015, if she will confirm that the millions of euro that were paid annually to the one private commercial company were made under the heading of the home tuition grant scheme, in view of the fact that the arrangement letter issued on 23 December 2008 by her Department in the title of the letter refers explicitly to the home tuition grant; in view of this, if she will explain her statement that the group arrangements to which the Deputy refers were not a feature of the home tuition scheme at that time, in view of the fact that they clearly were a feature of the scheme; and if she will further explain the reason full details of the departmental arrangement with the one private commercial organisation was not included in the annual circular for each of the past seven years. [22340/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The terms of the Home Tuition scheme have been clearly set out in annual circulars since the commencement of the scheme.

As I have advised in the past the arrangements were approved by my Department in response to requests from some parents of children who were eligible under the terms of the scheme for Home Tuition but who were seeking these arrangements as an alternative.

Where parents of children, who are eligible for Home Tuition under the terms of the scheme, seek access to alternative arrangements and where such arrangements are available to the parents/guardians and eligible children, my Department has responded and will continue to respond to such requests with consideration and sympathy and with whatever flexibility can be applied. Approval of these arrangements was exclusively for children who were eligible under the terms of the scheme and constituted a flexible and compassionate approach which was equitable, reasonable and fair. These arrangements were not available for children who were not eligible under the terms of the scheme.

It is entirely appropriate that where Monies provided for Home Tuition, which would ordinarily have issued to parents but which now, at the request of parents issue to a private provider in line with these arrangements, should be referred to as Home Tuition funding and where appropriate this would be reflected in associated correspondence.

As previously advised there are now arrangements in place with 6 private pre – school providers which provide group tuition to children in a class type setting for children for home tuition has been approved.

In recent times there has been stronger demand from parents/guardians of children for whom home tuition has been approved to be accommodated in this regard and during this school year my Department commenced advising parents of the option to enter into a group arrangement with other parents of children for whom home tuition has been approved. However parents wishing to enter into such an arrangement must notify my Department in advance for approval.