Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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385. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of transport places that were made available for children to take part in the summer education programme for children with complex needs in 2020; the number of children to avail of transport during the programme for children with complex needs in 2020; the cost of transport for the programme for children with complex needs in 2020; the proportion of this which was spent on direct transport; the proportion of this which was spent on transport grants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29477/21]

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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410. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of transport places that were made available for children to take part in the Summer Education Programme 2020; the number of children to avail of transport during the programme; the cost of transport for same; the proportion of this which was spent on direct transport; the proportion of this which was spent on transport grants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29476/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 410 together.

School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 114,100 children, including over 14,700 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €224.7m in 2020. 

With regard to transport arrangements for the Summer Programme 2020, as the provision of transport was not possible due to Covid 19 restrictions at that time, my Department committed to providing grant funding to support families with the cost of transport arrangements for those children who were eligible for school transport and who were approved to participate in the school based Summer Programme.

School Transport Section has processed payment of these grants to all eligible families for which all required details have been received. To date, payment has been made to over 900 families at a cost of over €400,000.  School Transport Section is continuing to process payments of these grants to families who are eligible as information is received. 

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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A new model for allocating special education teachers (SETs) to mainstream schools was introduced from September 2017, based on the profiled needs of schools.  Over 13,600 SETs are currently provided to mainstream schools to support the learning needs of pupils who have additional needs in literacy, including those arising from specific learning difficulties.

It is the policy of my Department, in accordance with the principles of inclusive education, that pupils with such additional learning needs are supported in mainstream classes with additional provision made by a special education teacher.

In September 2018, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was requested to develop Policy Advice on Education Provision in Special Classes and Special Schools to examine whether placement in specialist settings brings about improved educational outcomes and experiences, relative to their ability, for students with special educational needs.

This Policy Advice is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. 

My Department is also arranging for a review of the policy on reading classes and schools.  This review will inform future policy for supporting children with special educational needs and the place of this specialist provision in those supports. 

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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387. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that the 124 special schools open for the 2021 July provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29091/21]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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417. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a home-based programme for eligible children and young persons who cannot avail of the 2021 summer provision scheme in a local school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29586/21]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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418. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the dates a school is allowed to run the 2021 summer provision scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29587/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 387, 417 and 418 together.

The Government has approved the provision of significantly expanded summer education programmes for pupils with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage, as a COVID-19 pandemic response measure, for summer 2021.

This ensures that for first time all primary and post-primary schools have the opportunity to provide summer programmes for students with complex needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage.

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

The programmes for mainstream students in primary and post-primary schools are new programmes for 2021, building upon previous summer programmes for pupils with complex special educational needs and those in provided in DEIS schools last year. The existing Special Class and Special School Programme has been expanded from 4 to 5 weeks.

While participation in the programmes is voluntary, enhanced measures have been put in place to encourage schools to offer the programme, including measures to reduce the administrative burden, provision of funding to schools towards preparation and overseeing of the programmes, earlier payment of school staff and provision to recruit newly qualified teachers graduating this summer to work on the programme.

The programme’s aims are to support students to re-engage with education, to build their confidence and increase their motivation, promote wellbeing 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.

A home-based summer programme will continue to be available for students with complex needs where their schools are not providing a school-based programme.

The programmes were developed following extensive engagement with education and disability stakeholders. Information issued to all schools last week regarding the school-based programme, including the link to an online portal where schools can register their interest in participating.All the documentation has also been published onwww.gov.ie/summerprovision.

Information on the home-based programme, including application forms, will be provided to primary schools in the coming days.

I encourage the school communities to take full advantage of this opportunity and offer this valuable programme to their students.