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Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2021

Wednesday, 17 November 2021

Questions (114, 115, 116)

Pa Daly

Question:

114. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education the date by which all payments will be made under the July provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56435/21]

View answer

Pa Daly

Question:

115. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education the criteria that applies to July provision payments in terms of determining those payments that will be made late; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56436/21]

View answer

Pa Daly

Question:

116. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education the process for communicating changes or delays to July provision payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56437/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 115 and 116 together.

Earlier this year, the Department announced the provision of a 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.

Teachers and SNAs who were employed in the school based programme were paid on or before 7th October which was earlier than last year when claims issued the end of October.

As in previous years, a home-based programme was provided for eligible pupils where there was no place on a school programme for them. The eligibility criteria was widened significantly this year.

A total of 12,129 claims were received of which 9,229 claims will have been paid out by the 11 November. The remainder fully complete claims will be paid in the next payroll run on 25 November.

Claims are processed and paid when all outstanding queries are fully resolved. Where there are outstanding issues, claimants have been contacted directly with a view to resolving as quickly as possible.

A dedicated mailbox has been available for the Home Based Programme to deal with queries since the programme launched – homebasedsummerprogram@education.gov.ie an automatic response has been in place on this mailbox since 11 October providing information regarding payment dates, including the two main payment dates.

An announcement has subsequently been added to the Home Based Summer Programme (www.gov.ie/en/publication/a0e87-summer-provision-home-based-programme/) on 02 November advising of the situation with payments.

The Department wishes to thank teachers and SNAs who participated in the expanded summer programme this year.

Question No. 115 answered with Question No. 114.
Question No. 116 answered with Question No. 114.
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