Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 September 2021
103. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of schools are awaiting payment for the DEIS literacy and numeracy summer camp; the number of claims made that have been paid; the number that have not been paid; the issues there are with payments being made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45613/21]
View answerThe Summer Camp programme is a voluntary programme which has been delivered annually in approximately 70 DEIS Band 1 primary schools for many years. The aim of the Summer Camp Programme is to provide rich educational experiences for pupils, which foster a sense of belonging and creativity and confidence in their learning.
In the context of the school closures associated with Covid-19, the programme was extended in 2020 to all DEIS primary schools to provide additional and inclusive resourcing in DEIS Band 1, Band 2 and rural DEIS schools.
In 2021 the DEIS Summer Camp Programme was again made available to all DEIS primary schools. As in previous years, the emphasis of the programme is on supporting the wellbeing and the engagement of those pupils who are considered by the school as having the greatest level of need, following the interruption to schooling earlier in the year
Schools were invited to register their interest in the programme at the end of May and once they confirmed their participation, the Department immediately issued the full resource grant for each camp through Navan and Dublin West Education Centres.
220 schools registered for the programme to hold a total 353 camps involving more than 10,000 pupils over the summer months.
To date, the Department has received payment claims from 219 of the 220 schools that have taken part in the 2021 DEIS Summer Camp Programme.
The Department undertook a review of claim forms and where any issues arose the Department followed up directly with the relevant school. This review process is now completed and it is anticipated that all teachers who took part in the programme (and whose claims have been received) will be paid on the Department's Primary Teachers Payroll run on September 30th 2021.
