Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2021
244. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if an organisation (details supplied) is permitted to offer support as part of summer provision for students who are blind or vision impaired as it did in 2020; if not, the reason it is not included in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37146/21]
View answerThe needs of children with special educational needs and children at most risk of educational disadvantage are a huge priority for Government at the present time. These children were impacted greatly by Covid-19 and the closure of schools. The Government provided guidance and support for schools throughout this period and put in place a supplementary tuition programme for these children in March this year.
In May 2021 the Government announced a package of supports to allow primary and post primary schools to offer a summer programme for students with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage, as a COVID-19 pandemic response measure for summer 2021.
The total funding available to provide summer programmes this year is up to €40 million, a one hundred per cent increase on the allocation for summer programmes in 2020.
The programmes on offer this summer include a new 2-3 week summer programme available to all primary schools and an expansion of the existing programmes in special schools and classes and in DEIS schools.
This range of programmes on offer builds on the success of the expanded programmes that ran last year and incorporates feedback from education stakeholders as to how to better support the programme for all involved in summer 2021.
The programme was developed following extensive engagement with education stakeholders, parent and disability advocacy groups. The programme aims are to support pupils to maintain their connection with education, to build their confidence and increase their motivation, promote well-being and for those who are at key transition stages, help to ensure that they continue their education journey in September either in school or in further/higher education or training.
The eligibility criteria for the summer programme was expanded in 2020 to include primary school children who are blind or have a most severe visual impairment. This has been widened under the 2021 summer programme to include children with sensory impairments attending post-primary school as well.
It is acknowledged that there are a range of voluntary bodies, disability representative organisations, or other publicly funded bodies, who also provide some form of summer programmes for children with special educational needs. Many of these are useful and beneficial programmes which are high valued by parents and children. There is no impediment to such organisations continuing to provide such programmes.
The summer education programme which is run by this Department, however, is an educational programme and therefore the programme is provided by educational staff, such as Teachers and SNAs.
In line with policy advice received from the NCSE, a review of the July Provision was commenced in 2019, was paused due to COVID and will get underway again shortly. Consideration of the potential inclusion of other specialist supports, in future, will be considered as part of this review.
