Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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557. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the contact made with a school (details supplied) to facilitate it with the appropriate information to allow it to provide the summer provision scheme to its students in 2020, either through teachers providing the service or parents funding tutors to provide the service within school grounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14942/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department published details of Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Educationincluding a programme for children with complex special educational needs.

The programme is a significant expansion on the July Provision programme of previous years with the eligibility criteria widened to include approximately 9,000 additional primary aged children with complex needs.

All special schools and primary schools with special classes are invited to provide the school based summer provision for their students. This programme will run for a minimum of two weeks and can extend up to four weeks where the schools, teachers and Special Needs Assistants are willing to participate.

Stepaside ETNS were one of the schools invited to take part in the School Summer Scheme, information on the scheme and how to register were included.

A reminder was sent to all eligible schools on the 3rd of July advising the deadline for registration was the 8th July 2020.

Home-based provision is available where a child’s local school is not providing a programme or does not have the capacity to accommodate a child in a planned programme this year.

In this situation my Department will provide grant funding towards the engagement by Parents of a registered teacher / SNA to provide home based support for 10 hours a week for 4 weeks.

Similar to the July Provision programme of previous years grouping arrangements are permitted subject to Terms and Conditions.

Any group interested in providing group home based support should contact the Department by email -

@ HomeBasedSummerProgram@education.gov.ie or phone (090) 648 4187 (10am to 5pm Monday to Friday)

Full information on summer provision and its various strands, including guidance information for parents, is available at Gov.ie/summerprovision

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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558. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if provision can be made for those that are eligible to attend a special class but do not wish to take part in the home-based summer provision programme such as in the case of a person (details supplied). [14943/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Summer Provision is aimed at helping children with complex needs prepare for a return to education, particularly after the health restrictions that have been in place over recent months. As work continues on planning for the re-opening of schools, it is important that we take measures help the prevention of regression among these children in terms of their education and social interactions. Based on the information provided by the Deputy it appears that the child in question is eligible for summer provision.

The eligibility criteria for summer provision includes children in the following categories:

1. Pupils with a diagnosis of Autism

2. Pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties

3. Any child in a special school or a special class

4. Children transitioning into a special class from early years settings to primary school

5. Pupils in primary school mainstream classes who present with the following disabilities:

- children with Down syndrome

- children who are Deaf or most severe hard of hearing

- children who are blind or have a most severe visual impairment

- children who have a moderate general learning disability

- children with severe emotional behavioural difficulties

The Government has also approved the inclusion of children with Down Syndrome who are attending post primary school in the home-based strand of the Programme.

Children with the above disabilities entering primary school next September are also eligible for the programme.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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559. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to ensure the July provision is extended to all children in the categories mentioned in summer provision 2020 entering primary and post-primary education and not exclude those that are due to enter primary education in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14944/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Summer Provision is aimed at helping children with complex needs prepare for a return to education, particularly after the health restrictions that have been in place over recent months. As work continues on planning for the re-opening of schools, it is important that we take measures help the prevention of regression among these children in terms of their education and social interactions.

The eligibility criteria for summer provision includes children in the following categories:

1. Pupils with a diagnosis of Autism

2. Pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties

3. Any child in a special school or a special class

4. Children transitioning into a special class from early years settings to primary school

5. Pupils in primary school mainstream classes who present with the following disabilities:

- children with Down syndrome

- children who are Deaf or most severe hard of hearing

- children who are blind or have a most severe visual impairment

- children who have a moderate general learning disability

- children with severe emotional behavioural difficulties

The Government has also approved the inclusion of children with Down Syndrome who are attending post primary school in the home-based strand of the Programme.

Children with the listed disabilities entering primary school next September are also eligible for the programme.