Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not have information on the decision-making involved in this matter. The NCSE makes its decisions based on evidence in its own research.

I am informing myself in my new brief and I will be happy to take on board the Senator's recommendations, suggestions and observations. I note in particular that she is voicing the concerns of up to 5,000 parents who have signed an online petition.

I hope the implementation group, which is considering the recommendations of the NCSE, will soon complete its work. I do not have a timeframe for completion, however. There is a suggestion that the implementation group will also consider the issue of children with Down's syndrome. I will seek to inform myself about the issue the Senator raises regarding the reason for the exclusion in the first place. I note that the focus of summertime provision was to prevent regression in education. From my earlier work with people with special needs, disabilities and different challenges, I am aware that any forum for providing any education, formally or informally, is good and important for their continued engagement with education. I thank the Senator for raising this issue.