Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021
290. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education the funding that is available for a group to set up a summer camp for children with autism (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35903/21]
View answerThe Government has approved the provision of significantly expanded summer education programmes for pupils with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage, as a COVID-19 pandemic response measure for summer 2021.
This is an important Government decision, which ensures that for first time all primary and post primary schools have the opportunity to provide summer programmes for students with complex needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage.
The total funding available to provide the programme is up to €40 million, a one hundred per cent increase on the allocation for summer provision in 2020.
The programmes for mainstream students in primary and post-primary schools are new programmes for 2021, building upon previous summer programmes for pupils with complex special educational needs and those in provided in DEIS schools last year.
The following categories of students are considered as students with complex needs for the 2021
Summer programme
- All students in special schools and special classes in primary and post primary schools, including early intervention classes.
- Students in mainstream classes in primary and post primary schools who are accessing the highest level of the continuum of support (Student Support Plus/for a few). This includes students with Autism, Down syndrome, sensory impairments, and other disabilities who were identified for the supplementary programme earlier this year.
Children in the above categories entering primary school in September 2021 are also eligible for the programme.
Through expanding school-based summer programmes for 2021 the Department is seeking to have more schools involved in providing the programme and reducing the need for parents to rely on the home-based programme. However, the Department recognises that not all schools will be in a position to provide a school-based programme.
A home-based summer programme is available for children with complex needs where their schools are not providing a school-based programme.
Under the home-based programme grant funding is made available so that parents/legal guardians can engage the services of a Teacher or an SNA to provide tuition or care support as appropriate in the child’s home.
The Department will approve a group arrangement between parents/legal guardians and private providers subject to compliance with the published terms and conditions for group arrangements and approved in advance by this Department.
Further information on group terms and conditions is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/62b3b-home-based-summer-programme-2021-terms-and-conditions-for-group-arrangements/.
Such arrangements must be sourced and procured by parents/legal guardians. Groups interested in signing up to such an arrangement should contact homebasedsummerprogram@education.gov.ie.
The Department will only provide funding for children who meet the home based summer scheme’s published eligibility criteria who are enrolled in school and where their school principal has signed Part 1 of the Grant Claim Form confirming their eligibility for the scheme.
