Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this important issue. As I said earlier, I am taking it on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley. The Minister of State, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, is also in that Department and I am replying on her behalf too.

Meeting the needs of children with complex special educational needs and children at most risk of educational disadvantage is a priority for Government. I want to start by saying there has been significant progress made in the summer programme over the past few years. The full funding of €40 million, as in previous years, is available and all funding is being utilised to meet the needs of our most vulnerable.

As the Senator said, numbers certainly have grown substantially since 2019. In 2023, approximately 1,400 schools and more than 50,000 children took part in the summer programme. This is compared to 300 schools and 13,000 children who took part in 2019. In 2024, the total number of schools running a summer programme is anticipated to be even higher than last year, showing that the measures that have been introduced are an effective incentivisation for schools. I pay tribute to the staff and to the SNAs who make this possible. We all know the value and the importance of routine for these young people who wish to participate in it.

On the Senator's specific issue, the answer he requires lies in the flexible grant funding. To reflect the unique circumstances that have arisen in special schools during the summer months, additional grant funding of €2,000 was provided for each week that a special school provided a school-based programme. Other enhanced measures are in place to encourage schools' participation. These include: a centralised application process to reduce the administration burden on schools; earlier payment to schools and staffs; and additional capitation that is significantly more favourable compared to the normal capitation during the school year, which is approximately €5 per week; the rate is cognisant of all costs associated with running a summer programme.

All of the measures for the 2024 summer programme, including the capitation, have been designed to maximise the number of schools and children taking part in the school-based programme. Special schools receive a greater rate of capitation to reflect the unique circumstances of running the programme in those settings. The home-based summer programme will again be made available for students with complex special educational needs where a place on a school-based programme is not available to them. Under this strand, grant funding is made available so that parents and legal guardians can engage the services of a teacher or SNA to provide tuition or care support as appropriate in the child's home. Parents of eligible children can arrange this programme over the school summer holidays to best suit their needs. That is the flexibility that has clearly been demonstrated from the Department.

As group-based programmes provide a more holistic experience for children which help to retain the important connection with peers, the Department is also engaging with other groups who are interested in running an educational programme to ensure the widest possible participation. The aims of the summer programme are to support children to maintain their connection with education, to build their confidence and to increase their motivation through peer engagement and socialisation.It is also designed to promote well-being and, for those who are at key transition stages, to help ensure they continue on their educational journey. It is intended that the range of programmes on offer will continue building on the success of expanded programmes that ran previously and will incorporate feedback from education stakeholders as to how to better support the programme for all involved in summer 2024.

As the Senator outlined, flexibility and agility are required on the part of the Department, teachers and SNAs. Most importantly, however, as the Senator also said, it is about putting the children at the centre of this programme and ensuring that they have continuity of support. This is the case for the Department and all of us as public representatives.