Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael)
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As the Minister of State is aware, I have chaired the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Autism since early 2022. After meeting with a large number of parents' groups, one issue came to the fore early on, namely, the lack of summer provision in special schools. These children have the highest needs. We issued a report in October 2022 and engaged with the Department of Education and the Minister of State with responsibility for special education on what we regarded as a major issue of concern. In fairness, the Department took on board our concerns. New rules, guidelines and supports were put in place for summer 2023. We opened a portal for students of the therapies in colleges and ECCE-qualified staff who were very well-educated to ensure they would be available to work in the programme. Anecdotally, we were told that a significant number of schools did not provide the programme because they could not get staff. A portal was opened and extra supports were put in place, with shorter hours and a €2,000 grant organised for it. I compliment the Department and Government for putting those supports in place.

I will give the figures for 2022. Of the 8,682 children in special schools, 1,408 had some programme - either two or four weeks - so 16% had a programme. In 2023, with all the changes and supports introduced, of 8,945 children, 2,443 had some programme, which is 27%. This included additional schools like Linn Dara School for the blind and Beaumont Hospital Special School. Twenty-three new schools were involved compared to 2022. Two did it and 22 did not do it in 2023 so there was an additional figure of 21, which brought us up just short of 60, or under 50%. Of that total, 369 children out of 8,945 got four weeks so, unfortunately, it is still a major issue of concern, which is why I am raising it today.

We need to address this issue for 2024. Rosedale School in Galway recruited 37 staff from the portal to run the summer programme. Most of those staff were then taken on and worked in the respite services so getting staff for the month for August is always an issue.

I do not think it is acceptable that we will have the same situation in 2024 where children with the highest needs are not getting supports. The committee sent a questionnaire to all 130-odd special schools in the country, collated the answers and issued a report. A total of 35% had difficulty in recruiting an organiser, 48% had difficulty in recruiting internal staff, 18% had difficulty in recruiting external staff and 20% did not have available school buildings. One in five said it could not run the programme because school buildings were unavailable. I will not name the school but one school said it could not do it because its school grounds were used for a private summer camp. A school is being used for a private summer camp for profit while the children who are in that school for the rest of the year did not have it for the summer programme. We know how children regress because of that gap.

We need to make this compulsory. I know that would cause a lot of anger but we have a portal for staff who are available and want to work in that service so there is no reason for any special school not to put that in place. The staff are available and have put themselves forward. They are more than qualified. I gave the example of a special school in Galway that recruited 37 staff. The children and parents were happy. They got their programme rather than the school saying it did not have the staff to run it.

I want us to start the process for 2024. I appeal to every principal and board of management. The responsibility is with the board of management of these schools as well. The starting point should be that they will offer the programme in 2024.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senator for raising this really important issue. He is right to raise it now because it comes around very quickly. All credit to both the Minister for Education and the Minister of State with responsibility for special education as they have done phenomenal work to improve access to this programme.

The needs of children with complex special educational needs and children at most risk of educational disadvantage continue to be a huge priority for Government. There has been significant progress in the summer programme over the past few years. Numbers have grown substantially since 2019 with 2023 seeing more schools and students participate than ever before. Provisional figures show that over 1,200 schools participated this year compared to 1,000 schools in 2022.

In particular, there has been an increase of more than 50% of special schools that participated this year. This means that 59 special schools have taken part this year - more than ever before - but I do take on board the points made by the Senator, which is that many did not take part. This increase in participation, particularly among special schools, follows an extensive review of the programme and the introduction of new measures to give meaningful support to schools and staff.

Following extensive consultation with education stakeholders and advocacy groups representing families of children with disabilities, steps taken to encourage more schools to participate in 2023 included a new initiative to the scheme for special schools. This initiative had been designed and developed to ensure supports and funding are targeted to enhance the availability of a school-based programme for pupils in special schools. As part of this pilot, a national co-ordinator was appointed to liaise with special schools to help them run a summer programme.This has proven successful with more than 50% of special schools participating. Schools were also given flexibility to engage staff who were not employed in the school. The Senator spoke to the school in Galway that was able to employ 37 staff members so that just shows how successful it is. A staff portal was made available for teachers and special needs assistants, SNAs, to register their interest in working on a school-based programme. Student teachers and students in relevant disciplines such as therapy, social care, nursing and others including early childcare workers and carers, were also able to register their interest. More than 1,900 people registered their interest in 2023. Other key additional supports were also put in place for both school and teacher SNAs involved in the programme. In 2023, instead of preparation hours, there was a dedicated role of school organiser in each school and they received an enhanced payment of €3,000 for this role. For special schools, the length of the day was reduced from the full school day to 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the same daily rate being paid to staff taking part. This again recognised the challenges associated with running the programme in a special school. In order to reflect the unique circumstances that would have arisen in a special school during the summer months, additional grant funding of €2,000 was provided for each week a special school provided a school-based summer programme. In fairness to the Ministers, they have worked really hard to try to encourage special schools to take part.

Other enhanced measures from last year have been continued to encourage schools’ participation. This includes a centralised application process to reduce administration burden on schools; earlier payment of school staff - something I heard was a deterrent before; an additional capitation to cover the running costs of the scheme; as well as enhanced capitation for special schools. A home-based summer programme was also made available for students with complex special educational needs where a place on a school-based programme was not available to them. Under this strand, grant funding was made available so that parents or the legal guardians could engage the services of a teacher or an SNA to provide tuition or care support as appropriate in the child’s home. Parents of eligible children were able to arrange the programme over the summer holidays to best suit their needs. Following the budget yesterday, I am delighted that funding in line with 2023 will once again be available to provide the summer programme in 2024.

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael)
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I put on record my thanks to both the Minister and the Minister of State in the Department of Education. The Government has put everything in place and made the changes that were needed. Unfortunately, schools are not coming on board. I do not see why, when one school can do it and employ staff, that another can not. Another issue that arose and on which I had a meeting last week with SIPTU and staff members in the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme, was where some of the information about the availability of that portal did not seem to filter down to those staff. It seemed to happen in some areas and not in others. That may be something for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to look at. I am aware that different Departments need to inform all the staff within ECCE that this portal is available. I note that we hope that schools will participate in 2024. We have to go further than this, to be quite honest. Will the Minister of Education and the Minister of State at the Department of Education with special responsibility for special education and inclusion, write to every single special school on behalf of the Government and the parents? We want every single school to participate next year. The supports are being put in place. The financial supports and the availability of the workforce through the portal is there. There is no reason at all for this not to be done in every single school. That has to be the minimum place to start.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In fairness to both Ministers, there has been improvement this year but there is always more to do. Preparation has already started for the 2024 summer programme. This will involve engagement with education partners, parents, schools, advocacy groups and other stakeholders. I will take the Senator's point back to the Minister as some people did not know the portal was there. The portal did simplify things because we heard previously that it was onerous to go through the system. On foot of this engagement, the terms and conditions for the 2024 summer programme will be designed to encourage even more schools and staff to participate. We will also be engaging with other groups who are interested in running an educational programme to ensure the widest possible participation. As the Senator knows, the aims of the summer programme are to support children to maintain their connection with education, build their confidence and increase their motivation through peer engagement and socialisation. We also know it is hugely important for parents that they get that break for that three or hour hours a day during the summer holidays as well. The Senator makes very valid points and I will bring them back to the Minister.