Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the summer programme for 2021 including registrations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45676/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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In May 2021 the Government announced a package of supports to enable all primary and post primary schools to offer a summer programme for students with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage.

The total funding made available to provide a summer programme this year is up to €40 million, a one hundred per cent increase on the allocation for 2020. The programme was developed following engagement with education stakeholders, parent and disability advocacy groups.

The programme’s aims were to support pupils to maintain their connection with education, build their confidence and increase their motivation, promote wellbeing and help to ensure that those at key transition stages could continue their education journey in September. either in school or in further/higher education or training.

The programmes on offer this summer included a new 2-3 week summer programme available to all primary schools and an expansion of the existing programmes in special schools and classes and in DEIS schools. This range of programmes offered built on the success of the expanded programmes that ran in 2020 and incorporated feedback from education stakeholders as to how to better support the programme for all involved in 2021.

An online registration portal for schools for the summer programmes opened on 20 May and closed on 25 June. Schools had the flexibility to run their summer programme at any stage during the summer holidays. Registrations of interest in the programmes were received in respect of an estimated 34,000 students.

A home-based summer programme was available for students with complex special educational needs where a place on a school-based programme was not available. Under this strand, parents engaged the services of a teacher or SNA in a private arrangement which the Department then funds. Parents could use the hours over four weeks of the summer holidays. The closing date for receipt of completed forms for the home-based programme was 03 September 2021.

Claims from schools and parents are currently being processed. Final figures on participation will be available once all claims have been processed.