There are no definitive figures on the numbers of children being educated at home but 200 families are estimated to be educating their children at home at any given time.
Ms Claire Getsee in Attymass, Co Mayo, has six children and educates those of school-going age at home. She started when she thought her first son was not having a positive experience at school.
"I'm still doing it and it's working very well," she said. Her children are now aged from 1 1/2 to 14.
When her eldest son got to the age for second-level education, she gave him the option of going to school. He chose to stay with Claire and is now preparing for his Junior Certificate. She said her reaction to the legislation would depend on the detail.
"I have no objection to a standard being set that is equal to general education," she said. "But it all depends on the detail in the guidelines and on the parents involved."