Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2020
377. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports available to parents of children with special needs who wish to avail of the July provision and in 2020 cannot find a teacher or special needs assistant in their area willing to participate in providing the July provision for their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13823/20]
View answerCovid-19 has presented an unprecedented global challenge for all of society, including our children. Learning has been challenging for many students since school buildings closed.
In response my Department published details of Summer Provision 2020 – Reconnecting with Education including a programme for children with complex special educational needs.
Summer Provision 2020 is a discrete response to Covid-19 and is a significant expansion on the July Provision programme of previous years with the eligibility criteria widened to include approximately 9,000 additional primary aged children with complex needs.
Following the decision from Cabinet this week the home based summer programme is also open to children with down syndrome who are attending post primary school.
The programme aims to ensure, in so far as possible, that these children can reintegrate/transition into their planned education setting for the next school year with their peers.
My Department has been flexible in its approach to the programme so as to maximise the number of children participating. In-school or home-based supports can now be delivered in July or August. Where Parents cannot secure the services of tutor they can engage an SNA to provide care support.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has published information to assist Parents in sourcing the services or a Tutor or SNA for the 2020 Summer Provision The information is available on the NSCE website at
https://ncse.ie/information-for-parents-on-private-home-tutor-services-advertising-platforms-for-the-2020-summer-provision-scheme
Full information on summer provision and its various strands, including guidance information for parents, is available at Gov.ie/summerprovision
