Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 March 2021
105. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the provisions that will be put in place to ensure that children in emergency or homeless accommodation whose families may find it difficult to facilitate a home tutor can still take part in the summer provision programme. [13682/21]
View answer106. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the details of the planning that has taken place to date for 2021 summer provision programme. [13683/21]
View answer107. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if she will consider putting together a centralised database of teachers and special needs assistants who are willing to provide tuition for families as part of the summer provision programme in order to prevent issues that occur each year with families struggling to find a tutor. [13684/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 105 to 107, inclusive, together.
A significantly expanded Summer Programme was provided in 2020 for children with the complex needs as a discrete response to Covid-19. The programme included a number of strands and options from which parents could choose, involving either in-school, or home-based supports by teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) to help to prevent regression among children with SEN.
The programme's aim was to support children to reintegrate/transition into their planned education setting for the 2020/21 school year with their peers.
Over 14,000 children participated in the special education summer programmes developed by the Department including 3,881 in the school based programme, 9,716 in the home based programme and 450 families in the HSE programme.
The NCSE provided information for Parents on how to source a Teacher or SNA where parents cannot source one through their schools. Support could also be accessed through Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN).
My Department is progressing work on proposals for this years Summer Provision scheme which will be influenced by the current public health emergency. These proposals will be developed based on engagement and consultation with the education partners. The issues raised by the Deputy will be considered as part of this work.
I will make an announcement on this in due course.
