Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael)
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The second item is a motion from the committee members, which was proposed and forwarded by Deputy Buckley on behalf of the committee and which was amended at our last private session and which we asked to be considered today.

I call on Deputy Buckley to move the motion on behalf of the committee.

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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I move:

That the Joint Committee on Autism

— notes the evidence of parents of autistic children and other stakeholders about difficulties with the Summer Programme

and while not having met all the key stakeholders, given the urgency of the current situation, calls on the Minister for Education to:

— ensure that all autistic children will have access to the Summer Programme in 2023;

— ensure that all Special Schools will provide the Summer Programme in 2023;

— provide sufficient resources to schools in order that they may offer a comprehensive provision of the Summer Programme in 2023;

— liaise with the various stakeholders to ensure that increased numbers of schools participate in the Summer Programme, bringing the resources of Schools together where needed, thereby ensuring that a programme is available in every large town in the country;

— mitigate any constraints to the provision of the Summer Programme including staffing issues such as delays in payment to teachers and SNAs (Special Needs Assistants), resolve any pay anomalies, and to broaden the potential workforce e.g. OTs (Occupational Therapists), SLTs (Speech and Language Therapists), early childcare workers, and include suitable student placements;

— mitigate any difficulties with Garda vetting to allow staff to move from one school to another school easily.

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael)
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Would Deputy Buckley like to make a comment?

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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No, I think the motion is self-explanatory and I am conscious of time. I thank the committee for its co-operation.

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael)
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Is the motion agreed? Agreed.

The resolution of the committee, which has all-party support, is in response to the urgent situation which has arisen around the summer programme 2023. I request the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, to make specific arrangements for next year's scheme, which we believe will benefit children with autism. It is the opinion of the committee that immediate action is required to ensure that schools are supported in providing the summer programme next year. The committee hopes that this resolution will succeed in ensuring that every child has a place in the school summer programme for 2023. In accordance with parliamentary practice, I recommend that the committee report to the Dáil and Seanad on this resolution, and request a debate in both Houses of the Oireachtas.