Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date by which all payments will be made under the July provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56435/21]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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115. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria that applies to July provision payments in terms of determining those payments that will be made late; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56436/21]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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116. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process for communicating changes or delays to July provision payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56437/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 115 and 116 together.

Earlier this year, the Department announced the provision of a 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.

Teachers and SNAs who were employed in the school based programme were paid on or before 7^thOctober which was earlier than last year when claims issued the end of October.

As in previous years, a home-based programme was provided for eligible pupils where there was no place on a school programme for them. The eligibility criteria was widened significantly this year.

A total of 12,129 claims were received of which 9,229 claims will have been paid out by the 11 November. The remainder fully complete claims will be paid in the next payroll run on 25 November.

Claims are processed and paid when all outstanding queries are fully resolved. Where there are outstanding issues, claimants have been contacted directly with a view to resolving as quickly as possible.

A dedicated mailbox has been available for the Home Based Programme to deal with queries since the programme launched – homebasedsummerprogram@education.gov.ie an automatic response has been in place on this mailbox since 11 October providing information regarding payment dates, including the two main payment dates.

An announcement has subsequently been added to the Home Based Summer Programme (www.gov.ie/en/publication/a0e87-summer-provision-home-based-programme/) on 02 November advising of the situation with payments.

The Department wishes to thank teachers and SNAs who participated in the expanded summer programme this year.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if payments will be made in respect of the July Provision to persons (details supplied). [56438/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Earlier this year, the Department announced the provision of a 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.

Teachers and SNAs who were employed in the school based programme were paid on or before 7^thOctober which was earlier than last year when claims issued the end of October.

As in previous years, a home-based programme was provided for eligible pupils where there was no place on a school programme for them. The eligibility criteria was widened significantly this year.

The guidance documentation for the home-based programme stated that payment for all correctly completed claims received by the closing date would issue on 28 October 2021.

However there was a significant increase in the number and complexity of claims involved and while the majority were paid by the 28 October 2021, unfortunately there was a delay in some payments issuing.

A total of 12,129 claims were received of which 9,229 claims had been paid out by the 11 November 2021.

Special Education have confirmed that both persons will be paid in the next payroll run on 25 November along with all the remaining fully complete claims.

The Department wishes to thank teachers and SNAs who participated in the expanded summer programme this year.