Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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792. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to change the current system governing the provision of additional teaching hours to children, such as cystic fibrosis sufferers, who require home tuition teaching hours due to absence from school, given the difficulties that the system is causing for a parent (details supplied) who must source a teacher, keep note of teaching hours and claim from her Department; her views on this on this matter in general and in this specific case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1004/16]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department administers a Home Tuition Scheme which provides a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons including chronic illness such as Cystic Fibrosis, are absent for a significant proportion of the school year and where the degree of absence is such that without supplementary instruction the pupil is unlikely to be able to perform academically at the level appropriate to his/her level of ability. Circular 038/2015 sets out the current terms and conditions underpinning the Home Tuition Scheme.

As tuition takes place outside the usual school structure it is important that home tutors are qualified to provide an educational programme. In line with the terms of the scheme, parents/guardians must recruit a teacher who is qualified to teach in the sector concerned and who is registered with the Teaching Council of Ireland, similar to the requirement for teachers in schools.

Whilst my Department recognises that securing a fully qualified teacher may prove difficult for parents, and where all efforts have failed to secure the services of a teacher qualified to teach in the sector concerned, the Department may consider the engagement of a person who is registered with the Teaching Council and has a primary degree (minimum Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications) in the relevant area, e.g. Psychology.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the child in question was in receipt of Home Tuition for the period October 2013 to May 2014. There is no record of any subsequent application for Home Tuition being submitted to my Department.

The Home Tuition scheme is an important support provided for children who for reasons including significant illness are unable to attend their school for prolonged periods. As such I have no plans to change the current scheme.