Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the cut in funding to schools providing the summer programme; if she will reverse this decision as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26993/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Details of the 2024 Summer Programme were published on the 21st March 2024. I want to clarify that there was no cut to the Summer Programme budget so that the full funding of €40m is available and, as in previous years, all of this funding is utilised to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children.

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.

More than 1,700 individual expressions of interest have been received from schools seeking to run this year’s Summer Programme – representing the highest-ever uptake of the Summer Programme. Over 1,400 schools participated in the programme in 2023.

Of the schools registered for the 2024 Summer Programme to date, there are:

• 1,475 primary schools – up 19 per cent on 2023
• 205 post-primary schools – up 28 per cent on 2023
• 72 special schools – up 22 per cent on 2023 and 85 per cent on 2022.

All the supports and incentives introduced, both in 2024 and in previous years, have been developed and designed to increase participation by allowing all schools to provide the Summer Programme.

A key barrier to participation previously has been the availability of staff. In 2023, teachers and SNAs working on the school-based scheme were paid a higher personal rate of pay. Consequently, more schools have taken part.

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.

The capitation rate for special schools, which is the sector that my 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.

Our goal is to maximise the number of schools and children taking part. We will keep the rate of capitation under review to ensure we can support schools as much as possible with this.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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186. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will give consideration to amending the home tuition scheme to reflect earlier specialised preschool enrolment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26997/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons, are unable to attend school. The scheme also provides a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement for whom such a placement is not available.

Specifically, the Deputy is referring to the strand of the scheme that caters for Pre-school aged children with autism who meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria. The age requirement is in line with the enrolment age of children who are seeking an early intervention class. The children who qualify under this strand of the scheme are seeking an Early Intervention class placement which is not currently available, as confirmed by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). Early intervention classes are available for children aged 3 to 5 with Autism and the home tuition scheme is a designed to align with this criteria.

Provision is also made for early educational intervention through home tuition for children aged from 2.5 years to 3 years with autism.

Ensuring that every child with special educational needs gets a suitable education is a priority for the Department of Education.

Home Tuition Grant Schemes are governed by annual circulars which sets out the purpose, eligibility criteria and details of the scheme. Circular 0050/2024, which was released early last week, provides information on the 2024/2025 Home Tuition Grant Scheme for children with special educational needs and medical grounds. It can be accessed by clicking on the following link: www.gov.ie/en/circular/9c0f9-home-tuition-grant-scheme-20242025-special-education-component/.

Under the special educational needs and medical grounds home tuition scheme, funding can be provided towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for:

(a) Pre-school Aged Children with Autism who meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria

(b) Students with special educational needs seeking an educational placement in a recognised school

(c) Students, enrolled in schools, with a significant medical condition, or school phobia and/or associated depression/anxiety, which has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, major disruption to their attendance at school.