Written answers
Tuesday, 16 April 2024
Department of Education and Skills
Special Educational Needs
Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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351. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the reduction of funding for pupils in the Summer Programme over the past two years; if this decision will be reviewed; the engagement she has had with teachers in relation to this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16596/24]
Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Details of the 2024 Summer Programme were published on the 21st March 2024. The Department of Education recently announced 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. 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.
The 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.
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 in the Summer Programme. 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, the Department saw a much larger number of schools taking part, particularly in primary schools and the Department is anxious for this to continue.
Schools are also given the flexibility to engage staff that are not employed in their schools to support their summer programme. A staff portal is now available on EducationPosts.ie for teachers and SNAs to register their interest in working on a school-based programme in a Special School. Student teachers and students in relevant disciplines such as therapy, social care and nursing and others, including early childcare workers and carers, will also be able to register their interest in working on this year’s Programme.
In 2023, the Inclusion Programme and Special Class elements from 2022 were combined to form one cohesive scheme for mainstream schools where the aim was to bring a more targeted approach for children with special educational needs. 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 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. To assist schools further this year, in the special class group or the combined group setting, schools also have the flexibility to consider how best to align the existing resource allocation to accommodate more children into these groups.
It is important to note that the capitation rate for special schools, which is the sector that the Department is 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.
The Department is satisfied 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.
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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352. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in County Carlow which have applied for ASD units; the number which were successful; the reasons for which those that were not successful; the timeline on delivery of the units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16612/24]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.
The Department engages 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. In planning and providing for additional school accommodation, the Department must also have regard to construction inflation pressures and competing demands on suppliers of modular accommodation and project management services.
It may not be possible or appropriate to open new special classes in every school who expresses an interest in opening a new class.
In general, demographics have been falling at primary level and are due to continue to decrease. Therefore, the Department considers it prudent to maximise the use of existing spare accommodation capacity at primary level in the first instance, before considering any applications for further accommodation needs. This is in line with public spending requirements. In relation to the provision of primary special classes, the shared preference of both the Department and the NCSE is to use and reconfigure existing school accommodation to provide special classes. Given the number of primary special classes available already and the falling demographics, it is also likely that most of the new additional special classes may be required in larger population centres in a local school planning area.
At local level, the NCSE is currently reviewing the overall demand for such provision in the area alongside the availability of space in local schools. The NCSE and the Department continue to engage on a regular basis in relation to the provision of additional special education placements. This involves regular weekly meetings and ongoing meetings with NCSE regional teams.
Since 2020 my Department has received applications from 3 Post Primary schools and 15 primary schools under my Departments Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme for special classes in County Carlow.
15 school's applications were successful and details of all current Additional School Accommodation scheme projects are available on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie.
3 applications are currently under consideration with 1 of these applications previously refused due to special class not being sanctioned by the NCSE. However, the NCSE have since sanctioned a class for this school and when the assessment process is finalised the school authorities will be contacted directly with a decision.
I can assure the Deputy that the provision of required school places, including for children with special educational needs, is a priority for my Department and officials are working to ensure that there is sufficient provision to meet the school place needs in the school in question and the wider School Planning Area for future years.
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