Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I want to thank the Deputy for his question on this very important scheme for children with special educational needs.

I am delighted to say that funding of €40m has been secured again to ensure that a comprehensive summer programme will be available in 2024. This builds on the successful summer programmes of the last three years. Full details of the programme were published on the 21st March 2024. I want to reassure the Deputy that the full funding of €40m is available and, as in previous years, all of the funding is utilised to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children.

All schools, once again, have an opportunity to run a programme over the summer months for those children who need it the most. These children can continue to be supported, nurtured and encouraged to engage in a fun and inclusive educational setting.

Our main priority again in 2024 is 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. The published reports of my Department’s Inspectorate have highlighted the enormous value of this programme and I would encourage as many schools as possible, particularly special schools, to participate in this programme for 2024.

Since 2019, the Summer Programme has gone from strength to strength. In 2023, approximately 1,400 schools and more than 50,000 children took part. This is compared to the 13,000 children who took part in 2019.

A key barrier to the participation of schools previously has been the availability of staff, particularly those experienced staff already working in the schools. In 2023, to maximise the use of the Summer Programme budget, teachers and SNAs working on the school-based scheme were paid a higher personal rate of pay. Consequently, my Department saw a much larger number of schools taking part, particularly in primary schools, and we are anxious for this to continue.

Schools are given the flexibility to engage staff that are not employed in their schools. A staff portal is now available on EducationPosts.ie for teachers and SNAs to register their interest in working on the programme in a Special School. Student teachers and students in social care, various therapies, nursing and others, including early learning and childcare practitioners, will also be able to register their interest in working on this year’s Programme.

While the capitation rate in mainstream schools was raised to €45 in 2023, the €30 rate per week for 2024 is in line with the rate for the Inclusion Summer Programme in previous years. This rate is cognisant of all costs associated with running a summer programme and is very favourably compared to the normal capitation during the school year, which is approximately €5 per week. As mentioned a moment ago, it is important to state that the funding to pay the staff has been increased and this constitutes the main costs for the programme.

It is important to note that the capitation rate for special schools, which is the sector that we are actively encouraging to participate in the programme, remains at €60, as it has been in 2023, to reflect the unique circumstances of running a programme in those settings.

I am satisfied Deputy that the full range of supports which underpin the summer programme ensures that it remains a well-supported and important measure in supporting children with special educational needs. My officials have worked intensively with various stakeholders in designing the changes that have resulted in increased take up over the last couple of years.