Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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572. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there is such a delay with payments for the July provision (details supplied); if there is an option available to be paid earlier; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15087/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department published details of Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Education including 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.

The common pay date for the Summer Provision programme (formerly the July Provision Programme) was introduced in 2009 as part of my Department's continued effort to improve service to parents of children with special educational needs.   This year’s payment will issue on 29 October 2020 for those engaged in the programme at Primary level and for those at Post-Primary level payment will be made on 5 November 2020.

The benefit of the common pay date is that those engaged in the delivery of the programme know the exact date on which they will receive payment from my Department and they will receive payment on the same date irrespective of whether they are included in a school-based or home-based programme.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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573. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will sanction an additional ASD build for a school (details supplied). [15091/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has recently sanctioned additional capital funding, to the school referred to, for the provision of an additional special class.  This funding will allow the school to deliver a 2-class Special Educational Needs Base.  The school authority has been informed of this decision.