Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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113. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a child (details supplied) is being denied access to July summer provision; the reason a school is not being afforded flexibility in order to provide the child with July summer provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26542/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Details of the 2024 Summer Programme were published on the 21^st March 2024. 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 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.

Where a school is not running a Summer Programme or a place on a school-based programme is unavailable, the Home-based programme is available for pupils with complex special educational needs.

In relation to the school that the Deputy refers to, this school has registered to run the School-based Summer Programme in 2024. The Department’s records also indicate that an application for the Home-Based Summer Programme for the child concerned was made by the school and was sanctioned by my Department on the 10^th June 2024. Under the Home-based Summer Programme, the child has been approved for 10 hours of tuition or care support per week for 4 weeks.

Decisions regarding which children should participate in the school-based provision or the home-based provision is a matter for the school, having due regard to the eligibility criteria and the resources applied for. It should be noted that schools have considerable flexibility in terms of staffing, such as recruiting staff who are not teachers or SNAs, to assist them in supporting the children in their school.

A Department helpline is available for schools and parents at 090 648 4292 to address any specific queries regarding this year’s Summer Programme. Queries concerning the school-based scheme can be directed to the . Queries concerning the Home-based scheme can be directed to the .