Written answers
Tuesday, 16 May 2023
Department of Education and Skills
Special Educational Needs
Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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84. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding that has been allocated per programme to the Summer Programme 2023; and the number of DEIS schools that have indicated they will run the programme. [22913/23]
Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Department announced the details of the 2023 Summer Programme on the 9th February 2023. This followed an announcement on the 17th October 2022 that additional funding had been secured in Budget 2023 to run the 2023 Summer Programme to match the investment in 2021 and 2022. This brings the total funding available to €40m. All schools will have an opportunity to run a programme for those children that need it the most.
Once again, all schools have an opportunity to run a programme for those children that need it the most.
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.
This year introduces a new Special School Programme as a pilot initiative to ensure that 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, 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.
There are two 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 (includes schools who received their DEIS status in September 2022).
- The Post-Primary Scheme for students with complex special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage.
In relation to the 2023 Summer Programme, the closing date for the registration process for Primary, Post-Primary and Special Schools has been extended until the 16th May 2023. Measures to encourage schools to sign up this year are proving successful and, based on registration, it is anticipated that there will be a 20% increase of overall figures of schools participating in the Primary Schools Scheme (including DEIS schools) and a 50% increase of the overall figures of schools participating in the Special Schools Scheme.
Based on the reconfiguration of the schemes for this year’s programme, exact figures will not be known until all payment claims are fully processed. However, based on ratios from last year’s programme, it is anticipated that the €40m allocated will be divided up between the schemes as follows:
| 2023 Summer Programme Scheme | Ratio |
|---|---|
| Primary School Scheme | 29% |
| Special School Scheme | 6.5% |
| Post-Primary School Scheme | 6.5% |
| Home-based Scheme | 31% |
| DEIS Literacy & Numeracy Scheme | 27% |
Full details of the Summer Programme is available on www.gov.ie/summerprogramme.
Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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85. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 119 of 23 March 2023, her plans to publish her Department’s review of the summer programme; the reason it has not been published to-date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22852/23]
Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The comprehensive review of the 2022 Summer Programme was part of the development of this year’s Summer Programme and its terms and conditions. The outcomes and improvements identified in the review are addressed specifically in the overview documentation for this year's programme, rather than in a separate review document, and are based on the culmination of engagements and feedback from this process referred to in my previous Parliamentary Question response. This overview documentation is published on the Department's website at www.gov.ie/summerprogramme
In addition to the above, the Inspectorate of the Department have conducted their own review on the 2022 Summer Programme. The contents of this review will be published shortly.
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