I propose to take Questions Nos. 436, 437, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447 and 448 together.
The 2022 Summer Programme built on the expanded programmes of the previous two years. Since 2021, all primary and post-primary schools were given the opportunity to run at least one scheme under the programme.
The programme that has been provided in recent years was developed following extensive engagement with education stakeholders, parents, and disability advocacy groups. For instance, in 2022, to support more schools to participate, greater flexibility was given to schools, additional supports were provided to alleviate administration burdens, and staff who took part were paid earlier than ever before. The programme has gone from strength to strength, with over 42,000 pupils benefitting from a programme either in the school-based or home-based strands.
I am however conscious that parents want this programme to be available in more schools in 2023.
My Department has conducted a review of the Summer Programme to ensure that we can build on the success of recent years. As part of this review my Department has engaged with the management bodies, schools, and parents with a view to encouraging more schools to participate in 2023. Department officials met with the principals of Special Schools in meetings around the country. They also met with officials from Malta on two occasions to utilise some of the learnings from their system in terms of the planning and organisation. There will be particular focus on Special Schools in 2023. Additional supports and resources will be made available to them to run a programme, in recognition of the additional complexities involved.
A Home-based programme will be available in 2023 for pupils with complex special education needs where their school is not running a Summer Programme or a place on a school-based programme is unavailable.
An additional €20 million funding has been approved under Budget ‘23 to continue the expanded summer programme for next year, bringing the total to €40 million for 2023. This is in line with what was allocation for 2022. Expenditure for 2022 remains provisional however it is anticipated that the full budget was spent on the programme. This earlier announcement that funding has been secured will allow schools several extra months to plan for the programme this year.
The details of Summer Programme 2023 are due to be announced next week. Information and guidance will be circulated to schools, and published on www.gov.ie/summerprogramme. This means that guidelines will issue three months earlier than in 2022 i.e. 04 May 2022.
In 2020 and 2021 the majority of staff who worked on the summer programme were not paid until the end of November. However, it should be noted that up until 2022, the home-based and school-based payments were processed through different sections in the Department using paper-based claim forms. For 2022, schools were able to avail of the Department’s existing Esinet system to input claims for staff. This meant that claims could be processed from July onwards and throughout the summer. The majority of staff on the school-based programme were paid by the end of September.
Previously, payments for the home-based programme generally issued on common pay dates in late October and into November. However, for the 2022 programme, the first payments issued at the end of September and on a fortnightly basis thereafter.
The statistical data as requested by the Deputy in respect of 2020, 2021 and 2022 is set out in the tables below:
Number of Schools, Pupils, Teachers and SNAs that participated in the Summer Programme from 2020-2022
2020
|
Number of Schools
|
Number of Pupils
|
Number of Teachers
|
Number of SNAs
|
Special Class and Special School
|
259
|
3,982
|
761
|
1601
|
Primary Inclusion
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
DEIS Literacy & Numeracy
|
214
|
7,000
|
812
|
Note 1
|
Post-Primary
|
72
|
2,243
|
309
|
33
|
Home-Based Summer Programme
|
n/a
|
9,716
|
5,543
|
1,38
|
Note: this figure is not readily available.
2021
|
Number of Schools
|
Number of Pupils
|
Number of Teachers
|
Number of SNAs
|
Special Class and Special School
|
377
|
5,587
|
1,315
|
2,403
|
Primary Inclusion
|
405
|
6,103
|
784
|
995
|
DEIS Literacy & Numeracy
|
221
|
10,738
|
908
|
49
|
Post-Primary
|
99
|
2,228
|
481
|
181
|
Home-Based Summer Programme
|
n/a
|
13,321
|
6,675
|
1,980
|
2022
|
Number of Schools
|
Number of Pupils
|
Number of Teachers
|
Number of SNAs
|
Special Class and Special School
|
419
|
5,746
|
1,539
|
2,858
|
Primary Inclusion
|
494
|
8,372
|
1,324
|
1,245
|
DEIS Literacy & Numeracy
|
260
|
11,211
|
827
|
117
|
Post-Primary Inclusion
|
117
|
2,228
|
460
|
240
|
Home Based Summer Programme
|
n/a
|
13,883
|
6,712
|
2,037
|
Cost of Summer Programme 2020-2022
|
School-Based
|
Home-Based
|
2020
|
€8.08m
|
€12.3m
|
2021
|
€18m
|
€17.8m
|
2022
|
TBC
|
TBC
|
Schools and Pupils Participating in Summer Programme in Special Classes and Special Schools 2022
|
|
Total Number of Pupils Attending
|
Pupils Attended 1 week
|
Pupils Attended 2 weeks
|
Pupils Attended 3 weeks
|
Pupils Attended 4 weeks
|
Pupils Attended 5 weeks
|
Number of Special Schools
|
39
|
1,408
|
12
|
811
|
216
|
334
|
35
|
Number of schools with special classes
|
380
|
4,350
|
83
|
2,926
|
547
|
667
|
127
|