Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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161. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action her Department is taking to increase teacher and SNA uptake of the Summer Education Programme for 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20388/23]

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. This year's earlier announcements was to support schools and staff to plan for the summer programme much earlier in the school year.

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 terms and conditions for the 2023 Summer 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. The Department has engaged with management bodies, schools and parents and listened to their views and designed this year's programme to encouraging more schools and staff to participate in the 2023 programme. Measures to encourage schools to sign up and provide places on the school-based summer programme are as follows:

This year, the Primary School Scheme combines the Inclusion Programme and Special Class elements from last year into one cohesive scheme for mainstream primary school bring a more targeted approach for children with special educational needs.

This year also introduces a new adjustment to the scheme for special schools. This programme has been designed and developed to ensure supports and funding are targeted to enhance the availability of a school-based programme for pupils in special schools.

As part of this pilot, a National Coordinator has been appointed to liaise with special schools to help facilitate them run a programme. A series of live recorded webinars directed specifically at encouraging as well as assuaging any concerns of Special Schools have recently taken place and are available to view on: www.gov.ie/summerprogramme.

In addition, there are two in-school schemes at mainstream primary level and one at post primary:-

• The Primary School Scheme for pupils in all primary mainstream schools.
• The DEIS expanded literacy and numeracy summer camp/campaí samhraidh for pupils in DEIS primary schools.
• The Post-Primary Scheme for students with complex special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage.

• School Organiser Role - In 2023, instead of preparation hours, there will be a dedicated role of School Organiser in each school offering the summer programme. The School Organiser will receive additional remuneration for their role. This is envisaged to be a key leadership role that will offer development opportunities for staff in schools.
• Summer Programme Manager - In all schools (mainstream and special), the role that was previously called the Overseer will now be called the Summer Programme Manager.
• Staff training – This year there will be information and training session provided to all schools, including special schools, which will provided guidance and training.
• Length of school day for special schools - the length of the day for children’s activities is being reduced from the full school day to 10am – 2pm or alternate hours which best fits the school’s need. Four hours of activities for children must be provided each day, this again recognises the challenges associated with running the programme in a special school.
• Flexibility in Weeks - The weeks schools run a programme do not have to be consecutive, the scheme is flexible to allow schools choose weeks which best suit their needs and staff availability.
• Continuation of 2022 supports - Other enhanced measures from last year will continue to encourage schools’ participation, including a Centralised Application Process to reduce admin burden on schools, earlier payment of school staff and an additional capitation to cover the running costs of the scheme, as well as enhanced capitation for special schools.