Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I could not agree more on the summer provision, or the July provision, for this year. Regression has really adverse consequences for children with special needs and the summer provision is a way for them to reintegrate into a school environment. Last year, in line with the criteria we used, pupils included those with a diagnosis of autism or of severe and profound learning difficulties, those who were in a special school or special class, those who were transitioning into a special class from early years settings to primary school, those in primary school mainstream classes who presented with Down's syndrome or who were severely hard of hearing or had a severe visual impairment, those who had a moderate general learning difficulty and those with severe emotional or behavioural difficulties. Approximately 24,000 children were eligible for the scheme and it was its most successful year ever. It is crucial that it go ahead this year, and it will do so. We have expanded some of the categories and this year it will be extremely important.