Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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119. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 128 of 2 February 2023, her plans to publish the Department’s review of the summer programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13644/23]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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My Department announced the 2023 Summer Programme on the 9th February 2023 following a comprehensive review. 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 earlier announcement allows schools several extra months to plan for the programme this year. 

Once again, all schools will have an opportunity to run a programme for those children that need it the most. 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 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 Department has listened carefully to feedback from stakeholders and is working to make the scheme as inclusive as possible and available to as many eligible students as possible, whilst retaining a focus on children and young people with the most complex special educational needs.

As part of this review, the Department has taken a proactive approach to ensure that we can build on the success of recent years.  This year's programme has been developed following this review and engagement with education stakeholders, parents, and disability advocacy groups, including the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Autism.

The outcome of the review of the summer programme has resulted in the development of this year's schemes including the terms and conditions. This information is published in this year’s Overview documentation, which is available on www.gov.ie/summerprogramme.