John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

180. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the case of schools (details supplied) that choose to withdraw their services during some of the summer months, resulting in severe disruption for parents and family of the children attending these schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16342/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Each year eligible schools, including the school to which the Deputy has referred, are invited to participate in the July Programme.

Participation in the Scheme by a school is voluntary and subject to the availability of suitably qualified personnel in July. It is therefore a matter for the Board of Management of the school, having regard to the resources available to it and taking into account the health and safety of the children, whether or not it will participate in the programme in any given year.

Where eligible students cannot access a school-based programme, 40 hours (i.e. (10 hours for each of the four weeks) home-based tuition will be provided as an alternative to the school based scheme. Parents may come together as a group and make an application to the Department under this strand of the scheme. Full Details are available on my Departments website at