Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
828. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education the supports that are available to parents who are unable to secure the July provision summer programme and are experiencing difficulties in sourcing a tutor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19442/22]
View answer830. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education her plans for the way in which the July provision will be offered in 2022; and if pupils will be offered both home and school based July provision. [19451/22]
View answer879. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if consideration would be given to running the summer provision from regional locations or regional schools bearing in mind the low participation rate from individual schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19945/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 828, 830 and 879 together.
My Department ran an expanded summer education programme for Summer 2021, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under this expansion, students with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage had access to an enhanced summer programme of education. The total funding available to provide the programme was €40 million, which was a one hundred per cent increase on the allocation for summer provision in 2020.
The programme’s aims were to support pupils to re-engage with education, to build their confidence and increase their motivation, promote wellbeing and for some who are at key transition stages, help to ensure they could move on to their planned educational placement for the start of the next school year along with their peers.
For the first time ever, all schools (primary and-post primary) were encouraged to provide summer programmes and the eligibility criteria was extended to include post-primary children with complex needs and children at risk of educational disadvantage. Prior to this expansion, summer programmes were only available to special schools and pupils in special classes in primary schools and in DEIS schools. Overall, 37,977 pupils participated in the 2021 summer programme across both home and school-based elements, which represented an increase of 65% on participation in the 2020 programme.
This year’s programme is building upon 2021’s increased participation figures and in this regard, there will be extensive engagement with stakeholders and promotional material published to promote this year’s programme.
Summer programmes in post primary schools were provided for the first time in 2020, the number of schools who participated increased by over 37% in 2021 and it is hoped building upon last year’s success and with increased awareness of the new programme, will see a further increase in the number of schools who are prepared to offer such programmes this year.
A key objective of this year is to support schools in offering the summer programme to their students. The aim is to afford schools as much flexibility as possible. The availability of teachers and SNAs has been identified previously as a concern. In planning for this, the Department has considered feedback from schools and what worked well in 2021. The Department has held further consultation with education partners and stakeholders in this regard. Measures are being put in place to increase the number of teachers available to work on the programme this year, on both the home and school-based programmes.
The details of the programme are currently being finalised and will shortly be communicated to all schools and published on www.gov.ie.
