Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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665. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of plans for the modification of a mainstream classroom to a special educational needs classroom in a school (details supplied), given the school has received approval for a special educational needs class commencing September 2023 from the National Council for Special Education; if an official in her Department is assigned to progressing this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12927/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation from the school referred to by the Deputy. Officials in my Department are corresponding with the school authority and when supplementary information is received the application will be assessed and the school authority will be contacted directly with a decision.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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666. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review her Department’s policy of facilitating parents who are qualified teachers for providing tuition to their own children under the terms of the home-based summer programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12928/23]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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My Department announced the 2023 Summer Programme on the 9th February 2023. This follows the previous announcement on 17th October 2022 that additional funding was secured in Budget 2023 to run the programme to match the investment in 2021 and 2022, bringing the total funding available to €40m.

The terms for the 2023 programme are being implemented following a comprehensive review and engagement with education partners and stakeholders since last summer, including the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Autism.

Once again, all schools will have an opportunity to run a programme for those children that need it the most. This year’s programme will build on the progress that has been made over the last number of years, which has seen participation of children grow from 13,000 in 2019 to over 42,000 in 2022.

The central theme for this year’s programme is, ‘Building Confidence and Connections’. The primary aim of this theme is to help our children and young people to realise their potential, to be resilient in dealing with the normal stresses of their lives, to take care of their physical wellbeing and to have a sense of purpose, connection and belonging to their school community.

The main priority in 2023 is that those children with the most complex special educational needs, especially in special schools, should have access to a school-based summer programme. The preferred approach is that children are provided the Summer Programme in school settings where children may have access to fully qualified teachers, adapted fun based activity programmes, special needs assistants and interaction with student peers. The school-based programmes provide a more holistic experience for students and help retain the important connection with school and peers.

However, my Department recognises that not all schools will be in a position to provide a school-based programme. Where their school is not running a Summer Programme or a place on a school-based programme is unavailable, a home-based programme will be available once again for children with complex special education needs.

As with previous years, grant funding will be made available so that parents/legal guardians can engage the services of a Teacher or a SNA to provide tuition or care support as appropriate to their child. The programme must be delivered in person and cannot be delivered remotely.

To assist parents in sourcing a teacher/SNA for the summer programme in their local area, the IPPN has created a Summer Programme Noticeboard for teachers and SNAs to advertise their availability for the programme. Parents can also post notices on the board to source suitable candidates. The Summer Programme Noticeboard is available on www.educationposts.ie.

The NCSE have compiled a non-exhaustive list of private home tutor services and online platforms who may advertise for tutors for the 2023 Summer Programme. This document may support parents to source a tutor when they cannot source one through their schools. It can be accessed here: ncse.ie/information-for-parents-on-private-home-tutor-services-for-the-summer-programme.

In relation to parents of a qualifying child, whether they are qualified teachers or otherwise, being permitted to act as the tutor for the purposes of this scheme, this has never been an expressed feature of the Home-based Summer Programme. The expectation that parents should source a third party tutor is clear from the terms and conditions provided to applicants.

Moreover, an important feature of the Programme is the Department's ability to satisfy itself that the tuition has been delivered in line with the conditions of the scheme and that the substantial grants paid are used for the intended purpose. This can only be fully achieved by parents verifying that the tuition was delivered by third party tutors and verifying hours provided, were hours received on the payments claims form.

My Department has no plans to review this policy at this time.