Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

73. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the Summer Programme 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22623/23]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I want to thank the Deputy for her question.

My Department announced the details of the 2023 Summer Programme on 9 February 2023. Funding was provided in Budget 2023 to run the programme. This matched the investment in 2021 and 2022 of €40m.

The terms for the 2023 programme are being implemented following a comprehensive review and engagement with education partners, parents, schools and other stakeholders since last summer, including the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Autism, with a view to encouraging more schools to participate this year.

Once again, all schools will have an opportunity to run a programme for those children who most need this support.

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.

Schools are given flexibility to engage staff that are not currently employed in their schools to support their summer programme. A portal is available for teachers and SNAs to register their interest in working on a school based programme in a special school. This portal is live on educationposts.ie and has been widely publicised. Student teachers and students in relevant disciplines such as therapy, social care, nursing and others, including early learning and care workers, will also be able to register their interest in working on this year’s programme.

This year my Department introduced a new Special School Programme as a pilot initiative to ensure there is a real focus on supporting special schools. This programme has been designed and developed to ensure supports, including training, and funding are targeted to enhance the availability of a school-based programme for pupils in special schools. The initiative includes the appointment of a National Coordinator to liaise with Special Schools.

Also this year, there is a Primary School Scheme for pupils in all primary mainstream schools. This provides a more cohesive scheme combining the Inclusion programme and special classes from last year. A Post Primary School Scheme is available for students with complex special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage.

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 measures introduced this year to encourage schools to sign up are proving successful and based on registration to date it is anticipated that there will be a 20% increase on the overall figures (for children attending or schools participating????) and a 50% increase on the number of special schools participating.

The closing date for the registration process for Primary, Post-Primary and Special Schools has been extended until today, 16th May.

The Home Based Programme is also available again for pupils with complex special education needs where a school-based programme is not being run or a place on a school-based programme is unavailable. Details of the Home-based programme are published on the Department’s website and all schools have been contacted directly with details and supporting documentation. The online sanctioning portal is open until the 9th June.

Full details of the Summer Programme is available on www.gov.ie/summerprogramme.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

74. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12 that the NCSE visited to report on suitability for special education provision. [22858/23]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and reassure you that enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this government.

For 2023, the spend by my Department on special education will be €2.6 billion, a 10% increase on last year.

This level of funding and support represents over 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023 and includes funding for new special classes, new special school places, additional special educational teachers and special needs assistants.

The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.

Over the last two to three years, my Department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.

These initiatives are bearing fruit with over 600 new special classes sanctioned at primary level, almost 300 new special classes sanctioned at post-primary level and five new special schools established over the last three years.

My Department is engaging intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.

As a result of this forward planning, on the 12th of April, Minister Foley and I announced the establishment of 2 new special schools for the 2023/2024 school year, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.

Along with the two new special schools, 305 new special classes – 197 at primary and 108 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the 2023/24 school year, with more to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Of these, 63 will be in Dublin, with 43 at primary and 20 at post-primary level. This will bring the total number of special classes in Dublin to 528.

As demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to increasing demographics and increasing prevalence rates, my Department and the NCSE have engaged with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes.

In October of last year, my Department wrote to all post-primary schools to advise them of the need to begin planning to provide additional special classes. It is envisaged that all post-primary schools will be required to provide special classes over the next 3 to 5 years, with an approximate average of 4 special classes in each school.

In relation to the schools referred to by the Deputy, the NCSE advise my Department that there are no plans to open additional special classes in these particular schools for the upcoming school year, as other schools in the local area still have availability for the 2023/24 school year.

My Department is aware of another post-primary school in the Dublin 12 area that requires reconfiguration to their existing building in order to accommodate a new special class. My Department is currently engaging with the school and progress is underway to ensure the school is prepared for the intake of new students.

The NCSE will continue to monitor this situation on an ongoing basis.

My Department is committed, in conjunction with the NCSE, to continue to work with parents, schools, patrons and all stakeholders to ensure that there are sufficient appropriate places for students with additional needs.