Written answers

Thursday, 16 December 2021

Department of Education and Skills

Departmental Data

Photo of Gary GannonGary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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410. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers who worked on summer provision 2021; the number who have not received payment to date for their work; if it will be ensured that those awaiting payment will receive it on the next pay day; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62852/21]

Photo of Josepha MadiganJosepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Earlier this year, my Department announced the provision of a significantly expanded summer education programme for pupils with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage, as a COVID-19 pandemic response. This resulted in the biggest ever uptake of the programme during the summer period with the overall number of schools participating rising by 72% and the number of students by 65% over 2020. This is in addition to the supplementary programme run earlier in the year which had over 14,000 applicants.   The school based element was made up of an expanded Special Class and Special School Programme, a new inclusion programme at Primary level and an expanded inclusion programme at Post Primary level.  An expanded literacy and numeracy camp in DEIS Primary schools was also part of part of the summer programme for 2021.  An expanded home-based programme was available to eligible pupils whose schools were not offering a programme.

For the school-based element of the programme all fully completed claim forms were paid on or before 7th October 2021.  2,587 teachers have been paid across the Special Class and Special School programme and the inclusion programme at Primary and Post-Primary Level. There were also 3,593 SNA processed and paid for these programmes.

The number of individual teachers who received payment on the DEIS Literacy and Numeracy camp at primary level is not currently available and this will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.

In 2021, there was a significant increase in the number and complexity of claims involved and while the majority were paid by the 28 October 2021, with the remainder paid in subsequent payrolls. 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 for processing on the subsequent payroll dates.  As of the next payroll date of 23 December, 6,731 teachers have been paid for their participation on the home-based element of the programme and in addition 1,969 SNA have been paid.  There are 8 further claims on the home-based programme due for payment on 06 January and currently a small number of claims, 27 in total,  to be resolved with outstanding queries. My Department’s staff will continue to liaise with the tutors in question to resolve these issues.

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