Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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448. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the case of families seeking to support the education and care needs of pupils with complex needs on the supplementary programme during the period of school closures will be examined (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11468/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The supplementary programme is intended to supplement the teaching and learning provided by the student’s school and alleviate the impact of this period of school closure through the provision of five hours per week in-person teaching or care support to be delivered in homes.

The programme must be delivered outside of the normal school day (i.e. evenings and weekends), so that the student can continue to engage as fully as possible with the teaching and learning provided by their school.

My Department’s approach is intended to be flexible so as to maximise the number of students participating.

Any unused hours can be delivered to families at any time before 30 April 2021, including during the Easter holidays.

Schools have been requested to assist Parents in sourcing a Teacher/SNA on school staff or other teachers and SNAs known to the school.

In addition, the NCSE provides information on how to source a Teacher or SNA where parents cannot source one through their schools at the following link:

Support can also be accessed through Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) at the link:

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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449. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding special education classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11472/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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My Department is conscious of the fact that closing schools has hugely adverse consequences at individual, family and societal level and that the effect on children with special educational needs can be even greater.

Building on the return to school in recent weeks of children in special schools and in special classes at primary and post-primary level, the Government has decided on a phased return of students to in-school education.

These further phases have been developed in close collaboration with education stakeholders and follow ongoing engagement with the Department of Health and Public Health, HSE.

The Department of Health and the HSE have reaffirmed that schools in themselves are low risk environments and that a gradual phased reopening can occur at this time. Public health has reviewed the measures put in place to ensure safe operation of schools and is satisfied that these infection prevention and control measures, if rigorously adhered to, will keep the school community safe during this period. They emphasise that all measures must be followed carefully by students, staff and parents.

There will be a period of time between each phase to assess the impact of reopening on aspects of community transmission.

The phased return of students to in-school education and the associated target dates are as follows:

- Monday 1 March: the first four class groups at primary level – junior and senior infants, first and second class – and final year Leaving Certificate students returned to in-school provision.

This phase also saw a return to full attendance for children in special schools, as well as children in early start pre-school classes and early intervention special classes for children with autism or hearing impairment.

- Monday 15 March: the return to in-school provision of the rest of primary school children – third to sixth class, and fifth year Leaving Certificate students. This date will be reviewed during the period following 1 March.

- Monday 12 April: the return to in-school education of the rest of post-primary students following the Easter break – i.e. first to fourth year students.

My Department is anxious to further support those pupils/students with SEN who are unable to return to in-school teaching and learning under these phases.

At Primary level in recognition that not all primary pupils with special education needs will be back in school in this phase;

- Schools have been asked to prioritise deployment of their SET resources to facilitate the engagement of those pupils with SEN who are in 3rd to 6th class. This will necessitate further collaboration between the SETs and class teachers to establish current priority learning needs among those pupils.

- The supplementary programme for eligible pupils who are in 3rd to 6th class will be extended by a further two weeks (10 additional hours, for a total allocation of 30 hours)

At Post Primary level in recognition that not all students with special education needs will be back in school in this phase

- The supplementary programme for eligible students who have not yet returned to school will be extended by a further two weeks (10 additional hours, for a total allocation of 30 hours)

I know that a phased re-opening is particularly challenging for many children with special educational needs who have not yet returned to school and their families.

The purpose of managing this cautious phased return is to continue to limit the mobility of the population and curb the spread of the virus.

The safe return and sustained safe re-opening of our schools is a key priority for Government.