Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and post-primary schools expected to take part in the DEIS summer camp; the level of funding provided; the way in which this compares to funding in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25130/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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On Tuesday, together with the Minister of State with responsibility for Special Education, I announced the provision of an expanded summer education programmes for pupils with complex special educational needs and for those students at greatest risk of educational disadvantage, as a Covid-19 pandemic response measure, for summer 2021.

The five key strands of the programme will run, as follows Numeracy and literacy camps in DEIS primary schools; School based summer programme in primary schools with special classes and special schools; Home based provision for children with complex needs where no school based programme is available; All primary schools (DEIS and non DEIS) have the opportunity to provide a two-week summer programme for mainstream pupils with complex needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage.

All post-primary schools (DEIS and non DEIS) have the opportunity to provide a two-week summer programme for mainstream students with complex needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage.

The programmes for mainstream students in primary and post-primary schools are new programmes for 2021, building upon previous summer programmes in DEIS schools.

For the first time ever, all schools (primary and-post primary) are encouraged to provide summer programmes and the eligibility criteria have been extended to include post-primary children with complex needs and children at risk of educational disadvantage. Prior to this expansion summer programmes were only available to special schools and pupils in special classes in primary schools and in DEIS schools.

The programme’s aims are to support pupils to re-engage with education, to build their confidence and increase their motivation, promote well-being and for some who are at key transition stages, help to ensure they can move on to their planned educational placement next September along with their peers.

The total funding available to provide the five key strands of the programme is up to €40 million, a one hundred per cent increase on the allocation for summer provision in 2020.

Further details on the schemes and how schools can apply will be made available over the coming period at gov.ie/summerprovision