Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, this might cover a lot of the other questions that have been raised on the summer programme. On Scoil Chrónáin, I will be happy to ask one of my officials to reach out to her in that regard.

There is anxiety and a need to bring clarity to the summer programme as soon as possible. I get that, the frustration coming from parents and the need for that clarity. That is why I am very focused on bringing a properly worked out memorandum to Cabinet on Friday. To answer Deputy Higgins, we will bring clarity to this on Friday. Parents will have an opportunity to register on Friday and we will make that process as easy and as simplified as possible. I have no interest in a bureaucratic process here. In the past it took six to seven weeks to register for the July provision. We are not doing that this year. We want to do it more quickly within the space of a couple of weeks. That is the position that I am finding myself in and I am putting pressure on my officials to make this happen in as speedy a way as possible.

On the Down’s syndrome issue raised by the Deputy, there has been an ongoing campaign by the Down’s syndrome representative groups and I know voices in this House, in my own party and across the floor have been voicing this for years. This is the right thing to do which is to be as inclusive as possible. It is also important that we bring clarity as to who can apply and will be covered on Friday. There was an issue last week as to whether, for example, 65% of autism students in the mainstream be excluded. They will not be excluded; they will be included. I will bring clarity to that on Friday as well.

Another question concerned any issue which may arise regarding supply of teachers.

On another question raised, if there is an issue with the supply of teachers we will look at other creative ways around this. Two Deputies have made suggestions regarding retired teachers. If that is needed we will look at every possibility because the expectation has been created now that this is going ahead. It is going ahead and will do so in a comprehensive manner but at the centre of this is the child. We will make it work and ensure that the parent has a choice to have a school-based setting, but obviously if the school does not volunteer to open that school option will not be there and the home-based setting will be an option as well.

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