Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for being in the House for this debate. This is not my first time speaking on the issue of summer provision and I have no doubt it will not be the last. It is really important to recognise progress when it happens. Education is hugely important to people on this side of the House. Senator Malcolm Byrne and I, as spokespersons on education, really value what the summer programme can bring to the many children who need it, as well as to their families and communities.

I especially welcome the announcement by the Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy Foley, of a €40 million summer programme for next year. This is a timely intervention that gives schools an opportunity to prepare in earnest. Once again, all schools will have the opportunity to run a programme for those children who need it the most. It will allow us to support them in engaging with education in a meaningful way. The benefits of the programme far outweigh what happens in the school building. It benefits the children in the context of the community they live in and in terms of family interactions. That support is hugely important.

I acknowledge it is a priority that more children in special schools have access to a school-based programme. That is very welcome. In the past few years, it has been my experience that special schools did not want to run these programmes. I recognise that for staff in special schools, it is complex and challenging. For many, by the time the school term ends, there is a challenge in looking at running a summer programme.They are exhausted and they feel that it is very difficult to engage in teaching. That is why the new flexibility that has been introduced by bringing in teachers, graduate students and SNAs is helpful in this regard. It is hugely important that every special school has this, because these are the children who need that support most. For many parents and teachers who we speak to, when children are out of the routine that school has given them, they really do slip back. The summer period is too wide a period to not be able to continue with education.

As we know, and as the Minister of State has mentioned, over 45,000 students participated in the summer programme this year with more than 1,000 different schools running a programme. That increase of 18% is important and has to be celebrated and acknowledged. The fact that the earlier payment scheme has been implemented is important, because I know from speaking to teachers and teaching unions that that was a big issue previously in terms of how long it took for teachers and SNAs to be paid. The area of payment is important, as is the provision to recruit final-year student teachers and student teachers who are registered with the Teaching Council. It gives young students an opportunity to learn and to earn at the same time.

As I have said before, I believe we need to start down the road of universal access for children who need to avail of this provision. It is not a luxury for families that have a child with complex additional needs; it is a necessity for how they manage and deal with their child. I have previously criticised the scheme for not being extensive enough because we need to find a way of ensuring that all children with special educational needs have the option to continue attending school with school transport for the entire summer should they require it. We are on the step to developing that. I would also say that we need to move away from the opt-in and opt-out model for summer provision. It should be mandatory and the Department should be flexible with how the summer provision is implemented but in special schools in particular, it needs to be mandatory.

When we speak about providing services for special education and wider supports, we are not just talking about the four walls of the physical building. We are talking about the resources, the special education assistants and the intervention therapies that are needed. We all acknowledge that early intervention is important and that it makes such a difference in the lives of the young persons themselves of their families and of the people in their communities. Everyone needs the opportunity to fulfil their potential in as meaningful a way as possible. I also welcome the announcement of a review of the programme and that the Department of Education is engaging with relevant Departments, agencies and stakeholders in order that we can see more children participating in 2023. It is important that schools are given the support they need to be able to run a programme during the summer and that the review will also take account of administration needs, workforce expansion and training requirements, which are vital components for the schools.

Since 2021, the Government has invested in an enhanced summer programme to support students who are at risk of educational disadvantage and to help mitigate learning loss because of the Covid-19 pandemic and obviously, since the end of February last year, to support our displaced students such as the Ukrainian students. That is all valuable work and adds to the educational experience of the young people. I have been a long and genuine advocate for people who are living with disabilities and additional needs and I fundamentally believe that we should strive for a fully, truly inclusive education system, that is, one that meets all children where they are at and that coaches them to develop and reach their full potential. Every child, regardless of his or her ability or societal background needs to be catered for and nurtured in his or her local school, within his or her community and alongside his or her peers. Anything less is not acceptable. The summer provision programme the Minister of State spoke about at the outset is a crucial part of that vision. I commend the Minister of State on her work to date and thank her for her commitment to the whole school community. There is still much work to do but we are on the right way.