Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael)
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That is positive. Earlier, we passed a report on the 2023 summer programme. We are seeking changes to ensure that, at a minimum, every special school has a school-based summer programme, avoiding the unacceptable situation of more than 6,000 children with higher needs not getting a summer programme. One of our proposals to the Department of Education was to expand the range of professions that could participate to child psychologists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists. Another proposal was for third level students in psychology and those therapy areas to be deemed eligible to work on the summer programme and to be employed in it as part of their work placements. Professionals who were training to become speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and psychologists would be working with the kids in the gap period during the summer. Perhaps there could be a conversation on these positive proposals between the Minister's Department and the Department of Education.