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

I understand what the Senator is saying. However, it is important to note that the summer provision is an additional service provided by schools. Teachers, special needs assistants, SNAs, and support staff work hard all year so it is not something we can mandate. All we can do is ask and encourage schools and, as I said, remove those barriers. This year we allowed flexibility in the time so that it is no longer the July provision and the service can also be provided in August. They are paid in advance, there is a centralised application process, there are arrangements to have greater guidance and there is also a provision to recruit final year and professional master of education, PME, students so that we can have more of a staff base in place to assist schools. There is also a home-based programme for those children who do not participate in school. On the DEIS supports, a hot school meals programme will be provided for the summer provision as well as school transport.