Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The current structure of the summer programme for children with complex needs is not working and only a minority of schools are running it. This leaves children who desperately need it without educational and developmental support for two months, which we know is detrimental to their progress and well-being.

Despite pleas from parents, the Minister has been unwilling to change the programme so far. Responsibility for organising it is put on overstretched principals and teachers, while special needs assistants, SNAs, are disgracefully underpaid for this essential work. Last year, many of them were not paid until January for the July provision. Disgracefully, deeply worried parents have already given up on accessing the programme at all this year. Families are desperately asking for reform to ensure it is available in schools next year. I know this is a matter the Taoiseach fully supports, but will he commit to developing a new approach to ensure that all children who need it have access to a school-based summer programme?

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