Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of the summer programme. I know considerable work was carried out by the Department regarding special education. New recommendations were put in place but we are still hearing stories of a significant number of special schools deciding not to provide a school-based summer programme this year. I would strongly urge those schools to reconsider. The reality of not carrying out such a programme in schools is that thousands of kids with the greatest needs will not get that consistency through the summer months. I appeal to those schools that have decided not to implement a summer programme despite the significant changes being put forward, to change their minds. We should all be putting extreme pressure if at all possible on schools in our local areas to make sure that happens.

Yesterday, I was honoured to attend the student enterprise awards in my home county of Longford. I want to compliment the local enterprise office and Longford County Council. It was a fantastic day. A number of schools were involved, Mercy Secondary, Ballymahon, Ballymahon Vocational School, Ardscoil Phádraig, Granard, Cnoc Mhuire, Granard, Moyne Community School, Meán Scoil Mhuire, Longford, and St. Mel's College. All bar one of the post-primary schools took part in the awards. The standard of the projects was amazing. These are the future entrepreneurs in our communities. It was brilliant to see the work they have put forward.

The first year group from Moyne Community School won an award. It is appropriate given that we have been talking a lot about education recently. The winning project was entitled Big Move to Big School. It consisted of a booklet that could be given to children in fifth or sixth class in national schools throughout the country to help them decide what secondary school to choose. It is a fantastic project where kids can tick off what they like when they go to the various schools open days. I would like this taken on board. I will give a copy to the Minister for Education. It is a brilliant idea. It has been designed by first-year students stating what they would have liked to have had when they were making a decision as to which secondary school to go to.