Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
276. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to review the processes surrounding the Home Tuition Programme, such as the time it takes for families to receive approval, the time it takes for tutors to be assigned and the level of paperwork involved, with a view to making it more efficient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52616/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's Home Tuition Grant Schemes provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of specific reasons, are unable to attend school.
Home tuition is provided as an interim measure only for children for whom a placement in a recognised school is not currently available and should not be regarded as an optional alternative to a school placement. By its nature, home tuition is intended to be a short-term intervention.
The administration of the Home Tuition Scheme involves a range of different schemes and eligibility criteria, reflecting the varied circumstances under which support may be required. Applications may require input and verification from a number of stakeholders, including parents or legal guardians, tutors, schools, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), the Educational Welfare Service and, in certain cases, medical professionals. As a result, the processing time for applications can vary depending on the completeness of the information provided and the nature of the individual case.
Parents and legal guardians are advised that, once a fully completed application and all required supporting documentation have been received, applications are processed within 15 working days. Incomplete applications, or applications requiring additional information or verification from relevant stakeholders, may take longer to process. My Department continues to work to ensure that fully completed applications, which can include the completed tutor form, are processed within this timeframe wherever possible, recognising the importance of timely supports for eligible children and their families.
The engagement of tutors is a matter for parents or guardians, who are responsible for sourcing a suitably qualified tutor that meets the requirements of the scheme. My Department provides guidance on tutor eligibility and approval processes and seeks to process tutor approval requests as quickly as possible once all required documentation has been received.
My Department recognises the importance of ensuring that administrative processes are as efficient and user friendly as possible for families and tutors. Accordingly, the operation of the Home Tuition Scheme and its associated administrative requirements are kept under ongoing review to identify opportunities for improvement while maintaining appropriate governance, oversight and accountability for public expenditure
In line with the Department of Education and Youth Statement of Strategy 2025–2028, the development of a digital solution to move the home tuition payments claim process online is currently being explored.
In the meantime, my Department will continue to review existing processes and implement improvements where feasible, with a view to ensuring timely supports for eligible children and minimising unnecessary administrative burden while safeguarding the integrity of the scheme.
