Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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505. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils attending a special school in 2022 that participated in the school-based summer July provision scheme for 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22986/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Earlier this month, the Government announced this year's Summer Programme to allow 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 available to provide summer programmes this year is up to €40 million. The programme was developed following extensive engagement with education stakeholders, parent and disability advocacy groups.

The programme aims are to support pupils to maintain their connection with education, to build their confidence and increase their motivation, promote wellbeing and for those who are at key transition stages, helping to ensure they continue their education journey in September either in school or in further/higher education or training.

The information requested by the Deputy for the 2022 programme is not available at this stage However, the following information relates to the 2021 programme. Special Schools in 2021 had the option of offering a 5 week programme in 2021, as will be the case in 2022, so this figure has also been included.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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506. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount of funding spent on the summer July provision scheme 2022 which was initially allocated €40 million; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22991/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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While the information requested on the 2022 programme by the Deputy is not available at this stage, the below response relates to the operation and costs of the 2021 summer programme. My Department ran an expanded summer education programme for pupils with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage for Summer 2021, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under this expansion, students with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage had access to an enhanced summer programme of education. The total funding available to provide the programme was €40 million, which was a one hundred per cent increase on the allocation for summer provision in 2020.

The programme’s aims were to support pupils 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 could move on to their planned educational placement for the start of the next school year along with their peers.

For the first time ever, all schools (primary and-post primary) were encouraged to provide summer programmes and the eligibility criteria was extended to include post-primary children with complex needs and children at risk of educational disadvantage. Prior to this expansion, summer programmes were only available to special schools and pupils in special classes in primary schools and in DEIS schools. This resulted in 945 schools participating in the overall programme, a rise of 72% over 2020. 24,656 pupils participated in the 2021 school-based programme, an increase of 85% over 2020.

A home-based summer programme continued to be available for children with complex needs where their schools are not providing a school based programme. A total of 13,321 students availed of the home-based programme, an increase of 35% on 2020.

Overall, 37,977 pupils participated in the 2021 summer programme across both home and school-based elements, which represented an increase of 65% on participation in the 2020 programme.

A provisional amount of €36 million was spent on the summer programme, out of the total of €40 million allocated.