Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for her comments on that. The summer programme includes both special classes in mainstream schools and special schools, so the number has increased from 1,400 to 1,700. There was a time when there were only 13,000 children availing of the summer programme, which used to be called the July provision, but it is now 50,000. We have seen that increase and we are going to be constantly reviewing this and want to encourage more schools to do it.

On Donegal first of all, there are 12 new special classes there for the 2024-2025 school year, so there are now 127 special classes in Donegal with two special schools. However, the Senator is right about the transport times. The vision I have here is that children can attend the school in their area. That is the reason for increasing the resources of the NCSE, having it more visible on the ground and supporting it in its work with schools to identify these gaps across the country that need to have provision. I travel the country and meet principals and teachers in schools that have opened up the special class for the first time. There was often a lot of trepidation about opening the special class and staff were very honest about that. There was a fear attached to it and there is a culture needed in this area as well, but what the principals and school community say to me is that the value that special class brought to the whole school community has been phenomenal. What the staff and the other pupils get goes beyond education. It is social, emotional and there are so many benefits. I am preaching to the converted here, but it is really important to say that. We still have work to do and it is my role to provide the supports for schools and support them with training and all that. I think the Senator mentioned training, though maybe it was someone else.

She mentioned the SNAs. We have 21,000 SNAs across the country and they do phenomenal work. We had a survey published today or yesterday of the SNAs. Some 7,000 of those 21,000 fed into it. There is a high satisfaction rate within it, though it is a very stressful job. We are all aware of that and that any front-line services are stressful. Many of them are highly qualified in their own areas in life themselves. Many would perhaps prefer more continuous professional development and these are areas I would like to look at as well as a result of this. There is a workforce development plan under way so this survey is going to feed into that.

I might let Mr. Hanlon come in on other areas there. The Senator mentioned September and many members were looking at this around the 381 new special classes already sanctioned so far this year. That is over 3,200 for the 2024-2025 school year. There are four new special schools and 124 in total. In my weekly meetings with the NCSE on school placements for the upcoming school year it is confident there is sufficient provision for children known to it. It important any parents listening ensure they engage with the NCSE because sometimes parents are going directly to the schools, which is fine, but it is about letting the NCSE know as well that they need a place for their child this coming school year.

I will hand over to Mr. Hanlon if that is okay on the summer programme and the home-based programme.