Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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205. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to any processing issues of home tuition payments to autism spectrum disorder, ASD, schools that provide this service for families and children with autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3312/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school. The terms of this scheme are set out in circular 44/2020 which is available on my Department’s website at

Payments to group providers of home tuition, such as the facility concerned, are made directly to the provider on a monthly basis in arrears in accordance with my Department’s policy in this regard. Claim forms are submitted to my Department at the end of the month in which tuition has been provided and every effort is made to process these claims as efficiently as possible to ensure payment is made as soon as possible after the claim form is received from the facility. However, delays may be experienced from time to time if forms are incomplete.

Some delays may also be experienced as a result of the current working arrangements during the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic however I can assure the Deputy that every effort is being made to keep this to a minimum.

My Department is not aware of any delay in payment to the facility referred to by the Deputy.