Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
559. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education the reason that children who attend an independent, co-educational, multi-denominational primary school will be discriminated against when it comes to a home tuition service as part of the July Provision (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37748/22]
View answerIn May 2022 the Government announced the Summer Programme to allow all 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.
The total funding available to provide summer programmes this year is up to €40 million.
A key objective of this year’s scheme is to increase the number of schools offering the summer programme to their students. Steps have been taken to afford schools as much flexibility as possible, and to ease administrative requirements to support schools run a summer programme. It is accepted that a school-based programme provides a more holistic experience for the students and helps retain the important connection with school and peers.
It is acknowledged that not all schools will be in a position to provide a school-based programme, so students with complex needs for whom there is no school-based programme available are eligible for the 2022 Home-Based Programme. For the purposes of the Home-Based Programme students with complex needs are defined as:
1. Any student enrolled in a special school or a special class - primary and post primary
2. Students presenting with the most significant needs in mainstream classes in primary or post-primary schools who are accessing the highest level of the Continuum of Support (School Support Plus). This will include a small number of students with enduring needs which significantly affect their capacity to learn, to function independently and to participate in education. These students require highly individualised and differentiated learning programmes that are significantly different to their peers. These students may present with the following:
- Significant needs with physical and/or sensory functioning (including students who are Deaf or have severe to profound hearing loss and students who are blind or have a severe to profound visual impairment)
- Significant needs in cognitive functioning and independence/daily living skills (including students who have moderate to severe/profound learning disability)
- Significant needs in social communication, social interaction combined with rigid repetitive patterns of behaviour (including students with Autism)
- Students with Down syndrome
- Students with severe emotional behavioural needs, to the extent that these behaviours of concern are impacting on a student’s ability to learn, to function independently and to participate fully in school life
Children in the above categories entering primary school in September 2022 are also eligible for the programme. Where a pupil who meets the eligibility criteria and was in their final year of school in the 2021/22 school year, they may participate in the 2022 Home Based Summer Programme if a school based programme is unavailable.
I can confirm that school refers only to a school as recognised under Section 10 (3) of the Education Act. 1998.
