David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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676. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will clarify a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the provision of home tuition for children with complex special educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13010/23]

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, I can confirm that a home-based programme will be available once again for children with complex special educational needs. The details of the home-based programme will be announced in April on gov.ie/summerprogramme under the link Home-based programme.