1394. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the operation of the new home tuition payment process following concerns raised by tutors regarding accessibility, digital exclusion and uncertainty regarding the assistance tutors may provide to parents and guardians; and if she will ensure that clear, accessible guidance is issued to all families and tutors. [62870/26]

1395. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the consultation that was undertaken with home tuition tutors, parents and guardians, educational welfare officers and disability organisations prior to the introduction of the new payment process and fillable PDF forms, particularly in relation to accessibility and digital exclusion; and if she will publish details of the consultation undertaken. [62869/26]

1396. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the safeguards that are in place to ensure that home tuition tutors are not left unpaid or subject to unnecessary administrative difficulties where a parent or guardian is unable to complete or return the required payment documentation due to disability, literacy, digital access or other circumstances outside the tutor’s control; and if she will provide details of the supports available in such circumstances. [62868/26]

1397. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the new digital PDF payment process on families who do not have access to a computer, printer, scanner, reliable internet connection or sufficient digital literacy to complete, save, sign and return the required documentation; and the measures that are in place to ensure that such families are not disadvantaged. [62867/26]

1398. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the alternative arrangements that are available to parents or guardians who cannot reasonably complete the new home tuition payment form due to a disability, visual impairment, literacy difficulties, digital exclusion or lack of access to suitable digital equipment; and if she will provide for accessible alternatives. [62866/26]

1399. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a home tuition tutor is permitted to provide practical assistance to a parent or guardian completing the new payment claim form, including entering information at the direction of the parent or guardian, where the parent retains responsibility for the information provided and personally confirms the declaration; and if she will provide clear written guidance on the assistance tutors may provide. [62865/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1394, 1395, 1396, 1397, 1398 and 1399 together.

For 2026/27, the payment claim forms for the Department of Education and Youth’s various tuition schemes have been presented as editable PDF documents. This new measure has been put in place as part of efforts to progress the department’s Statement of Strategy 2025-28 and the move towards devising a digital solution for lodging payment claims under the home tuition payment process.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the forms are presented in largely the same format as previous years’ payment claim forms. The editable PDF can be opened and edited on freely available software and will facilitate the submission of clearer and more easily read details to the department. This will support more prompt processing of payment claims by reducing the number of forms being returned to parents/legal guardians due to legibility issues.

In the event that a parent/legal guardian does not wish to complete using the editable PDF facility, they are free to print out the payment claim form and complete by hand. This is set out on each of the forms. It must be noted that, even if completed using the editable PDF facility, all claim forms still require a handwritten signature and must be submitted to the department by post. In the event that a parent/legal guardian has no access to printing facilitates, the department will supply hard copies upon request.

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. Tutors have no administrative role in any of the department’s home tuition schemes. A tutor’s sole responsibility is the provision of tuition in line with the terms and conditions of the applicable home tuition scheme. Parents/legal guardians that require assistance with the completion of payment claim forms may contact the department’s Special Needs and Tuition Grants section, or, if required and as applicable, their Education and Welfare Officer or their child’s school authority.

The payment process itself has not changed. There is no facility for digital submission of any payment claim under the home tuition scheme.