Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I completely agree with the Deputy that these workers have an awful lot to offer. That is why we have allowed that flexibility for schools to hire staff from the early years sector. This year, for example, provision was made to include newly qualified teachers, undergraduate student teachers and final year students as well as those from the early years sector. We want to expand the potential of the workforce. I am working with the Ministers, Deputies Harris and O’Gorman, to make sure that is done.

For the Deputy's interest, 44 schools in County Cork ran 66 programmes for 1,449 children. They would have benefited from the summer programme this year. We also currently have the programme under review, which is really important. Together with consultation with the special education consultative forum, we are working very closely with stakeholders to make sure we can encourage all schools to participate in this programme.

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