Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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288. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to ensuring that home tutors governed by the home tuition scheme will be afforded the right to pensionability for their work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35859/21]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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324. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons who receive income under the home tuition grant scheme by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36394/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 324 together.

My Departments 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. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.

Under the Home Tuition Schemes, Home Tutors are engaged by the parents/guardian of the child who is to receive tuition. Home tutors do not have a contractual relationship with the Department of Education and Skills.

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

Any further queries in relation to PAYE and USC should be directed to the Revenue Commissioners.

The Department of Social Protection has determined that Home Tutors are engaged under a contract for service and are therefore self-employed and subject to PRSI Class S. Any further queries in relation to PRSI Class should be directed to the Department of Social Protection.

My Department acts solely as payroll agent on behalf of parents. Payment of the home tuition grant issues directly to the approved tutor via my Department's Non-Teaching Staff payroll.

This Department does not keep lists of tutors available to carry out Home Tuition.

Please see tutor numbers paid for the calendar years, by County, for 2018, 2019 and 2020 below:

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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289. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to applying a different PRSI class to the emoluments paid to home tutors governed by the home tuition grant scheme due to the fact that these tutors are essentially employees of her Department and their current PRSI status puts them at a serious disadvantage as a result of their lack of eligibility for pensionable PRSI contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35860/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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My Departments 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. By its nature, it is intended to be a short term intervention.

Under the Home Tuition Schemes, Home Tutors are engaged by the parents/guardian of the child who is to receive tuition. Home tutors do not have a contractual relationship with the Department of Education and Skills.

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

Any further queries in relation to PAYE and USC should be directed to the Revenue Commissioners.

The Department of Social Protection has determined that Home Tutors are engaged under a contract for service and are therefore self-employed and subject to PRSI Class S. Any further queries in relation to PRSI Class should be directed to the Department of Social Protection.