Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand what the Deputy is saying, but we are talking about a voluntary scheme. Each school makes the decision to participate or not, based on its own staffing and capacity to extend the school year for another month. They get a capitation rate, but the implementation of the scheme depends on whether staff are willing to work for the extra month. If the staff work the extra month they get paid for it.

Different schools have had a tradition of organising it. We invite schools to participate each year, but there is no element of compulsion in this scheme. The extension of the scheme would have to be considered in the context of a budget. The scheme is focused on children with particularly high levels of need. There are approximately 10,000 children getting support from this scheme. Overall, there are some 50,000 children with special needs if all of those getting support are counted. This scheme applies to a group within that group which has the need for it. We will certainly look at revisions to the scheme, but I will not consider making it compulsory at this point.

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