Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 June 2026
85. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of delayed payments for teachers on the Home Tuition Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44298/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the home tuition scheme, the Department of Education and Youth acts as a payroll agent only on behalf of parents/legal guardians who have been approved for grant payments under the scheme. The Department does not have any contractual relationship with the home tutor who is, in the context of home tuition, self-employed.
For convenience and for planning purposes, the payment claim form and other documents that set out the rules for claiming payment are published on the Department of Education and Youth website for each academic year during the preceding summer.
As set out in the directions on the payment claim form, and to comply with governance rules concerning the home tuition payment scheme, it is the responsibility solely of the parent/legal guardian to complete and submit forms for payment processing. When signing the payment claim form, both the parent/legal guardian and tutor have agreed to this condition.
There are twelve payment periods for home tutors in this academic year. These were planned to allow for a consolidated and organised pay issue structure in the Department’s Special Needs and Tuition Grants section, which processes home tuition payments. The deadline for submission of the payment claim form for each of the periods is set out on the form itself. The dates that were selected by the Department provide adequate time for the postal submission of the form after the close of each period. The payment dates for monies being lodged to tutor bank accounts are aligned with immutable pay issue dates for the Department’s Non-Teaching Staff (NTS) Payroll, which also issues payments to c. 30,000 SNAs, caretakers and secretaries.
When received and to ensure good governance standards, each payment claim form is reviewed to ensure validity and scheme compliance. Where it is determined that discrepancies exist or that additional verification is required, the Department contacts the parent/legal guardian only. Currently this process results in the original payment claim form being returned to the parent/legal guardian for review and annotation. In each case a preaddressed, pre-paid envelope is enclosed to promote prompt return of the claim form. Where it arises that a payment claim form misses a deadline, it automatically transfers to the next pay issue date. To ensure data and process integrity, amendments to signed paper documents cannot be accepted by phone or e-mail.
Claim forms are to be submitted to my Department at the end of the period in which tuition has been provided and every effort is made to process these claims 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 or not submitted promptly by the provider. I can assure the deputies that every effort is being made to keep any delays to a minimum.
In line with the Department of Education and Youth Statement of Strategy 2025-28, devising a digital solution that would see the home tuition payments claim process move online is being explored. Until such a system can be put in place, the Department will continue to minimise disruption to payment processing while ensuring that governance standards and scheme integrity are upheld.
