Written answers
Tuesday, 5 July 2022
Department of Education and Skills
Special Educational Needs
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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337. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine the case of two children (details supplied) who have been allocated shared summer provision reduced from 40 hours each to 60 hours due to the fact that they are siblings and despite the fact that there is a five year age gap and they have different academic needs; if her Department are able to arrange for a full 40 hours for each child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35282/22]
Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Under the home-based summer programme the allocation is 10 hours per week for 4 weeks where a student’s school is not participating in a school-based programme. The allocation is done on a per household basis with adjusted allocations for siblings.
Allocations of time for siblings broadly reflect how children may be grouped if they were in the same class at school. This is where one teacher is allocated to a class of six students with complex needs in schools.
However to meet the specific needs of different siblings with special needs in the home, an increased shared allocation is provided for siblings as set out in the table below.
| Number of siblings participating in home-based programme | Number of hours allocated per week to be shared between participating siblings |
|---|---|
| Two | 15 hours per week shared for four weeks (60 hours shared total) |
| Three | 20 hours per week shared for four weeks (80 hours shared total) |
| Four | 25 hours per week shared for four weeks (100 hours shared total) |
| Five | 30 hours per week shared for four weeks (120 hours shared total) |
| Six | 35 hours per week shared for four weeks (140 hours shared total) |
The scheme is responsive as it allows for circumstances where additional hours can be provided, as outlined below, when children have differing levels of need, school setting or residence.
Separate allocations of 10 hours per week will be provided to a child where that child is:
- Attending school at a different educational level to their sibling – (i.e. one child is primary and the other is post-primary)
- One child is in a specialised setting (i.e. one child in a special class or a special school and the other child in mainstream)
- Where two eligible children are each in a specialised setting (i.e. a special class or a special school)
- Or where one sibling is living in a separate home.
Officials in my Department are currently in direct contact with the family referred to by the Deputy with a view to resolving the matter.
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