Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his questions. I am sorry that I will not get to the other pertinent questions from the other Deputies but I will try to answer these three as quickly as possible. In a normal year, 650 schools are eligible for July provision, including up to 126 special schools, as well as schools with special educational needs, SEN, based tuition. It was always 650 schools. Last year more than 200 schools applied and this year 200 did. I am absolutely delighted with the level of response and positivity coming from the sector in a very challenging year.

The Deputy asked about eligible students. Any student with autism, Down's syndrome, severe, profound or moderate intellectual disabilities will qualify for the July provision.

The Deputy also asked about the HSE redeployment. Some 230 SNAs have signed up to the redeployment schemes. They are working under HSE contracts at the moment and I thank each and every one of them for doing so because they are doing really important work.

As regards schools reopening, we are all working to get them reopened. I am well aware of Holy Family national school. As the Deputy knows, there were local factors involved in the time delays and he knows what the issues are at local level. However, we have been working through them and we hope we are in a position to open that school in time for the new cohort of students.

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