Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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379. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that home tutors are classed as self-employed and as a result have no contract of employment, employment protections, holiday pay or access to social welfare supports; the reason for this arrangement; his views on whether the precarious employment is appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36644/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department operates a number of Home Tuition Grant Schemes and provides funding towards a compensatory educational service for students who are unable to attend school due to chronic illness, children with special educational 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 students whose education may be disrupted due to pregnancy.

The Home Tuition Grant Schemes are governed by annual Circulars which sets out the purpose, eligibility criteria and details of the Schemes.

As the Schemes are an educational service they are based on the school year. Therefore the periods which are covered for tuition and payment purposes reflect the school terms and do not include school holidays, bank holidays and weekends.

For children and students who qualify under the Home Tuition Grant Schemes, sanction is given to approve a grant towards the engagement of a tutor who will provide home tuition for the child/student in question. Home tutors are engaged by the parents/guardian of the child who is to receive tuition and the tutor has no contractual relationship with the Department of Education and Skills.

In order to facilitate parents, my Department acts solely as payroll agents on behalf of the parents/guardian. On foot of instructions from the Revenue Commissioners payments under the Home Tuition Grant Scheme are subject to statutory deductions at source.

Any queries in relation to PAYE and USC should be directed to the Revenue Commissioners. Queries relating to social welfare supports should be directed to the Department of Social Protection.

A Payroll Information Note is available on my Department's website which provides information for Home Tutors on the payments process and procedures for the Home Tuition Grant Schemes operated by my Department.