Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

434. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans the 2025 summer education programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25339/25]

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

435. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding allocated to the summer education programme over the past ten years, including 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25340/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 434 and 435 together.

Details of this year’s School-based Summer Programme were published on the 13 February 2025. Funding of €62 million was secured in Budget 2025 to ensure the continuance of the €40 million annual investment that has been provided for since 2021. As in previous years, all of the funding will be 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 so that these children can continue to be supported, nurtured and encouraged to engage in a fun and inclusive educational setting.

The main priority again in 2025 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 their school is not running a Summer Programme or a place on a school-based programme is unavailable, the Home-based programme is also available for pupils with complex special educational needs.

The Online Registration Portal for the 2025 School-based Summer Programme closed on the 11^th of April 2025. Currently, more than 1,800 schools have registered for more than 2,000 schemes in the 2025 Summer Programme.

It is further anticipated that the increase in the number of children taking part in these schools will be even higher. The increase in registrations continues the positive upward trend in participation seen in the summer programmes over the last number of years.

In relation to the Home-based Summer Programme, details are typically published in May to allow as many schools as possible to sign up for the school-based programme and to plan and organise staffing resources. Where a place on the school-based programme is unavailable or a school is not running the school-based programme, a place on the home-based programme may be available. Details of the home-based programme for 2025 will be published in the coming days.

Up to and including 2019, the Department of Education operated two educational schemes during the summer period: the July Provision and the DEIS Literacy & Numeracy Summer camps.

July Provision was available only to children with an ASD diagnosis or children who had a severe and profound General Learning Disability and who attended special schools or special classes within mainstream primary schools. In 2019, more than 300 schools and 13,000 children participated in these schemes.

In 2020, as a response to Covid-19, these two schemes were extended to accommodate more children and more schools participating. Subsequently, the July Provision scheme has become known as the Summer Programme.

In response to the Deputy’s question, a breakdown of the funding allocated to the Summer Programme for each year since 2020 is below:

Finally, a department helpline is available for schools and parents at 090 648 4292 to address any specific queries regarding year’s Summer Programme. Queries concerning the Summer Programme can be directed to:

For School-based queries: schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie

For Home-based queries: homebasedsummerprogram@education.gov.ie

Further information is also available on: www.gov.ie/summerprogramme

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

436. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of spaces available in ASD units in post primary schools within north Tipperary; the number of those filled, by school, in tabular form. [25364/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.

The NCSE is, in the first instance, the primary body responsible for the matter the Deputy has raised. I have forwarded this issue to them for their attention and direct reply.

Deputies are also welcome to raise such queries with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas query line at oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie.

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

437. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a plan is in place for a school (details supplied) to sanction an ASD class; and if she will intervene in the land dispute that is preventing the class from being built. [25378/25]

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

438. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) was cut-off for opening classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25380/25]

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

469. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of ASD classrooms that were sanctioned back in 2021 for a school (details supplied); the timeline for their opening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25617/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 437, 438 and 469 together.

In the case of the school in question, the NCSE has advised that this school recently confirmed their interest in opening a special class for the 2025/26 school year, however the NCSE understand that the school has no available accommodation to facilitate the class.

Officials in my department’s Planning and Building Unit confirm that they are aware that the school authority is liaising with Kildare County Council in order to secure land adjacent to the school to potentially allow the school to expand. Once this matter is progressed and the school is ready to submit an additional school accommodation (ASA) application, this will be given the utmost consideration.

Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now just over 28,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. 2,700 new places are being created in 2025 and these, together with the over 1,200 existing places which will become available due to children and young people moving on from primary schools and post primary schools, will mean that there is close to 4,000 places available for the coming school year. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has engaged in a process with parents and schools to identify children requiring a place for the 2025/26 school year and the 3,900 places available should meet the need that exists.

Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, 399 classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these, 15 are in County Kildare, 12 at primary and 3 at post primary level. This will add to the 131 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 6 special schools in Kildare with approximately 359 students enrolled. The NCSE remain in discussion with a small number of schools in which further classes may be sanctioned.

My department has written to all schools opening new special classes asking them to commence their admission processes as quickly as possible. It has also requested the NCSE to work closely with schools and families to ensure that these children access places as quickly as possible.

The NCSE has begun identifying what provision is required for the 2026/27 school year and has already begun planning in this regard. Part of this process, at a local level, and indeed nationwide, involves the NCSE examining which schools have capacity to expand within regions.

A particular focus this year was placed on medium and larger primary schools with available accommodation and no existing special class, to open a new special class. This not only ensures that classes can open quickly, as existing accommodation can be reconfigured in a more streamlined and efficient manner, but also that new provision is established in as many schools as possible. This provides parents more options when deciding which schools to apply to and ensures that provision continues to grow in a diverse number of schools across regions. This focus will remain to the fore when planning for the 2026/27 school year.

However, as done previously, where schools have no available accommodation, particularly at post-primary level, and there is known demand in a local area, my department will continue to provide additional classroom accommodation to provide necessary places.

Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

439. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide her Department’s recommended number of special classes available per population; the number of special classes currently operating in each county; and the number of future special classes which have been sanctioned, in each county; in tabular form. [25403/25]

Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

441. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide the number of new special classes sanctioned for September 2025 and their location; the current status on the preparation for each class; and to indicate which classes are projected to be ready for September 2025, in tabular form. [25405/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 439 and 441 together.

This government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.

The list at the link below provides a breakdown of all existing and new special classes for the 2025/26 school year by county.

My department has requested the NCSE to work closely with schools and families to ensure that children can access these places as quickly as possible. My department has also written to all schools opening new special classes asking them to commence their admission processes as soon as possible.

The vast majority of new special classes are being established within existing school accommodation.

The repurposing of existing accommodation is an efficient and effective way of facilitating special classes within a short timeframe. It is expected that classes being facilitated by way of repurposing works will be ready for the start of the school year.

However, given the longer lead in periods involved in modular accommodation projects, it is envisaged that contingency arrangements may need to be put in place at local school level in consultation with the NCSE to facilitate the opening of some of the new special classes in this accommodation.

My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.

Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

440. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether her Department or the NCSE compiled data on the average number of school applications children with additional needs go through before receiving an appropriate school place; and if so, to provide this average for each county. [25404/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.

My Department does not hold information on the number of individual applications made by parents for school places for children with additional needs.

The Programme for Government commits to the development of a common application system for admission to school, including to special classes and this is something my Department is working to progress.

The common application trial spearheaded by 13 primary school principals and supported by the NCSE in the D15 area has been well received and does provide key lessons in how a similar trial could be introduced in other areas.