Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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97. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on an appeal for a child (details supplied) for the home-based summer programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36384/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The Summer Programme is an educational programme which is run during the summer months. Sometimes referred to as July Provision, the Summer Programme was established to support the educational provision for children with severe/profound general learning disability and children with Autism by extending the school year for four weeks annually, typically into the month of July.

As a direct response to Covid-19, the Summer Programme has been significantly expanded to include more children with complex special educational needs.

Where a school-based programme is not being run or a place is unavailable, the Home-based Programme continues to be available for children with complex special education needs. However, due to the strong preference for students to take part in school-based programmes, the home-based programme is not available where a school-based programme is being provided.

In the case of the child concerned, although the school registered the child for the home-based summer programme, they had confirmed that there was a place available on their school-based programme. The parent subsequently received an email confirming the child was not eligible for a place on the home-based programme.

However, as it is recognised that there might be limited exceptional circumstances where the home-based programme could be provided instead of a school-based programme, the parent was invited to contact the Summer Programme team and to appeal the decision. To strengthen the appeal, the parent was requested to forward a letter of support from the school stating that the home-based programme is more suitable for child.

It is my understanding in this case that additional information has been provided by the school and, accordingly, a place on the home-based programme has been approved for the child.

Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to overturn her Department’s decision to refuse an exemption to rule 64(1) for the 2025-26 school year in the case of a pupil (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36390/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Special schools funded by my department are classified as primary national schools. They are intended, in accordance with the provisions of rule 64(1) of the Rules for National Schools, to provide an education to children and young people, with special educational needs, aged from 4 years to until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year.

Special schools may however seek approval from my department for an exemption from rule 64(1) in respect of students over the age of 18 who are pursuing courses leading to accreditation on the National Qualifications Framework.

A request for an exemption from rule 64(1) can only be made by a school where in addition to the above:

1. The student requires one additional year in order to complete their course
2. Retaining the student in the school for another school year will not prevent a younger student being enrolled there and
3. Plans are in place to transition the student to a post-school setting at the end of the school year