Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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569. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if it is possible to access information or a list of tutors for the July provision for 2022/2023 school year in the Kilkenny area. [42386/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is not available.

My Department’s Summer Programme for 2020 was a significant expansion on the July Provision programme of previous years, and was expanded further for Summer 2021.  This was in recognition of the disruptions caused to children with complex needs during the COVID-related school closures in 2020 and 2021. 

For the home-based element of the Summer Programme 2021, parents engaged a teacher or SNA in a private arrangement which was then funded by the Department after the tuition was delivered.  My Department does not maintain lists of teachers or SNAs for this purpose.  The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) published information to assist parents in sourcing the services or a teacher or SNA.

For the school-based element of the Summer Programme 2021, schools were permitted to employ teachers and SNAs from outside of their school if the staff normally employed by the school were not available for any/all of the programme.  The Teaching Council and the Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) promoted the programme with this year’s graduate teachers and Professional Masters of Education (PME) students to increase the supply of available teachers.  To help teachers and SNAs identify summer programme vacancies in schools in specific locations, the IPPN created a Summer Provision Noticeboard for teachers and SNAs. 

In line with policy advice received from the NCSE, a review of the July Provision programme was commenced in 2019. This review process was paused due to the impact of COVID-19, and the expanded summer programme as mentioned above was implemented as a pandemic measure.  The review of the programme will recommence at the earliest practicable time and it is not yet possible to comment on arrangements for upcoming school years.