Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps that are being undertaken now to plan for summer provision in summer 2023; if the programme still appropriately serves the children for whom it was initially designed to help; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50029/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I wish to thank the Deputy for the question and the opportunity to provide an update on this very important scheme for pupils with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage. The 2022 summer programme built on the expanded programmes of 2020 and 2021. From 2021, all schools were given the opportunity to run at least one summer programme.

In line with last year, the total funding available to provide summer programmes in 2022 was up to €40 million.

I can assure the Deputy that the programme continues to focus on supporting pupils with complex special educational needs and my Department has provided support to schools to run the summer programme to cater for these students.

To support and facilitate schools and principals with organising and running the programme, the 2022 Summer Programme allowed principals to delegate these functions to other members of staff. Capitation funding and preparation hours were provided to schools who participated in the programme, with additional funding and hours provided to schools that run the Special Class and Special School Programme. Further funding was also made available to Special Schools, in recognition of the extra complexities in running programmes in their schools.

I am very pleased to be able to say that an additional €20 million funding has been approved under Budget ‘23to continue the expanded summer programme for 2023, bringing the total to €40m for 2023. This early announcement that funding has been secured will allow schools several extra months to plan for a summer programme next year.

The programme has gone from strength to strength with 2022 seeing more schools and more students participate than ever before. Final figures for this year’s programme will be known later in the year but based on the information available to date, it is anticipated that over 45,000 pupils will have participated with over 1,000 schools running a programme.

I am however very conscious that parents want this programme to be available in more schools in 2023 and, as part of the planning that has already begun for next year, it is a priority for me that children in Special Schools have access to a school-based programme. I am committed to the on-going development of the Summer Programme with a view to ensuring that children with the most complex needs have access to a scheme. My Department is currently undertaking a review of the 2022 programme with a view to improving it for next year and with a committed focus on increasing the number of schools participating, particularly schools serving children with very complex needs.

In 2022 the Department had productive engagements with the National Association of Boards of Management for Special Schools (NABMSE). This led to positive initiatives to assist special schools such as through the hosting of information webinars and the introduction of a new grant for these special schools. I expect that these engagements will lead to more positive measures for the 2023 programme and beyond.

Following the review of this year's programme and finalisation of planning for next year, the details of the 2023 Summer Programme will be published at the earliest possible opportunity.