Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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486. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding per child allocated to the July programme for 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [14619/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Education recently announced details of the 2024 Summer Programme on 21st March 2024.

All schools have an opportunity to run a programme over the summer months for children with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage, so that they can be supported, nurtured and encouraged to continue to engage in a fun and inclusive educational setting.

The main priority in 2024 continues to be that those children with the most complex special educational needs, especially in special schools, should have access to a school-based summer programme.

All of the measures for the 2024 summer programme have been designed to maximise the number of schools and children taking part in the school-based programme.

There are a range of supports being provided to schools to facilitate them to run the programme which has seen the programme grow every year since 2019. In 2023, more than 50,000 children took part compared to 13,000 children in 2019. These supports include:

• In 2023, a pilot programme was developed specifically for special schools and a National Co-ordinator for Special Schools was appointed. This programme continues in 2024. The role of the National Co-ordinator has proved to be beneficial as it has resulted in an increase of more than 50% of special schools having participated.
• School Organiser Role – Since 2023, instead of preparation hours, there is a dedicated role of School Organiser in each school offering the summer programme. The School Organiser will receive additional remuneration for their role. This role is envisaged to be a key leadership role which offered development opportunities for staff in schools.
• Summer Programme Manager - In all schools (mainstream and special), the role that was previously called the Overseer is now called the Summer Programme Manager. The same person appointed as the School Organiser could also have been appointed to this role.
• Length of school day - For special schools, the length of the day was reduced from the full school day to 10am – 2pm. However, the same daily rate will have been paid to staff taking part. This was in recognition of the challenges associated with running the programme in a special school.
• Flexible grant funding - In order to reflect the unique circumstances that will arise in a special school during the summer months, additional grant funding of €2,000 will be provided for each week that a special school provides a school-based Summer Programme.
• Other enhanced measures are in place to encourage schools’ participation. These include a Centralised Application Process to reduce admin burden on schools and earlier payment of school staff.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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487. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new special classes that will be opened for September 2024 in Dublin 15 at secondary school level where seven students will require places, at primary senior level where 11 places are required for students entering third class, and at primary school level, listing the schools the NCSE and her Department are currently in discussions with, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14621/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.

In 2023, €2.6 billion was spent on special education and further progress will be made this year as an additional €113 million will be dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs.

This includes funding to support children with special educational needs in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers, special needs assistants (SNAs) and funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).

In 2024, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 744 teachers and 1,216 SNAs added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean we will have over 41,500 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.

The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.

Over the last number of 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 almost 1,300 new special classes sanctioned and seven new special schools established over the last four years.

My department engage intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This forward planning work is well underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, 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, two new special schools have been established for this current school year in Cork and Dublin, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.

In December 2023, I was also very happy to announce the establishment of a further four new special schools for the 2024/25 school year in Meath, Kildare, Wexford and Limerick. This will bring to 11 the number of new special schools established in recent years.

Along with the two new special schools opening this school year, 390 new special classes – 254 at primary and 136 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening this current school year.

Of these 71 are in Dublin, 48 at primary level and 23 at post-primary level. This brings to 534 the number of special classes in County Dublin, 408 at primary level and 126 at post-primary level.

In Dublin 15, there are 7 new classes opening this school year, 4 at primary level and 3 at post-primary level. This brings the total number of special classes in Dublin 15 to 57 - 40 at primary level and 17 at post-primary level.

Planning for special classes and special school places in County Dublin and nationwide is currently underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. The locations of new classes for 2024/25 will be confirmed by the NCSE shortly.

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.

My department wrote to all post-primary schools requesting that each school begin planning to provide for up to four special classes to meet the needs of children progressing from primary school. The department and the NCSE continue to have engagement with post-primary school management bodies in relation to the provision of special classes.

Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE's website at: www.ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list

My department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.