Written answers

Tuesday, 7 March 2017

Department of Education and Skills

Child Protection Services Provision

Photo of Mick BarryMick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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177. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department institutes procedures and training for the mandatory reporting of child protection concerns by home tutors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11188/17]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department funds a number of Home Tuition Schemes which provide a compensatory educational service for children who are not attending school for a number of reasons. These schemes cater for children who are:

- Unable to attend school due to chronic illness;

- Children with special education needs seeking an educational placement;

- Early education intervention for children with autism;

- Children (non-medical or non-special education needs) who are temporarily without a school place and

- Children whose education may be disrupted due to pregnancy.

My Department does not recruit or employ individuals to provide home tuition. A parent/guardian must source and recruit a home tutor.

Information in relation to the Home Tuition schemes is set out in Department Circular letters published by my Department. The Circular letters contain detailed information for parents/guardians on the scheme and information on the qualification and vetting requirements of tutors. As a condition of funding for the various home tuition schemes, parents/guardians are advised that tutors must be registered with the Teaching Council.

Parents/guardians are also advised that they must satisfy themselves that all tutors have applied for and have been vetted by the Teaching Council of Ireland via the Teaching Council’s online vetting process. Information on Child Protection is also provided in Circular letters.

As a condition of funding under the Home Tuition Schemes, tutors must also provide a completed child protection related Statutory Declaration and Form of Undertaking.

In relation to mandatory reporting, the Children First Act provides that all registered teachers are mandated persons. According to the Act, the duty to report applies in respect of information that a mandated person “has received, acquired or becomes aware of in the course of his or her employment or profession as such a mandated person”. The part of the Act providing for mandatory reporting has not yet been commenced.

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