Home special needs tutors left in legal limbo

Home tutors teaching children with special needs are in a legal limbo over their employment status and insurance cover because of a clash between three government departments.

The tutors, who provide vital education for children who do not have school places — mainly children with autism — were classed as self-employed until a few months ago and sorted their own tax and insurance.

But Revenue ordered the Department of Education to treat them as PAYE workers and deduct tax at source, and while the department is complying, it says the tutors are employed by the parents whose children they teach.