Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
114. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will reverse the proposed cut in the primary summer programme grant and restore the grants from the proposed €30 per child to €45 per child. [16341/24]
View answer117. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the reason the DEIS summer programme scheme has been changed in order that literacy and numeracy inclusion camps must be run concurrently. [16342/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 117 together.
Details of the 2024 Summer Programme were published on the 21st March 2024. The Department of Education also recently announced that funding of €40m has been secured again to ensure that a comprehensive summer programme will be available in 2024. This builds on the successful summer programmes of the last three years. The full funding of €40m is available and, as in previous years, all of the funding is utilised to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children
All schools, once again, have an opportunity to run a programme over the summer months for those children who need it the most. These children can continue to be supported, nurtured and encouraged to engage in a fun and inclusive educational setting.
The main priority again in 2024 is that those children with the most complex special educational needs, especially in special schools, should have access to a school-based summer programme.
All of the measures for the 2024 summer programme have been designed to maximise the number of schools and children taking part in the school-based programme.
Since 2019, the Summer Programme has gone from strength to strength. In 2023, approximately 1,400 schools and more than 50,000 children took part in the Summer Programme. This is compared to the 13,000 children who took part in 2019.
A key barrier to the participation of schools previously has been the availability of staff, particularly those experienced staff already working in the schools. In 2023, to maximise the use of the Summer Programme budget, teachers and SNAs working on the school-based scheme were paid a higher personal rate of pay. Consequently, the Department saw a much larger number of schools taking part, particularly in primary schools and the Department is anxious for this to continue.
Schools are given the flexibility to engage staff that are not employed in their schools to support their summer programme. A staff portal is now available on EducationPosts.ie for teachers and SNAs to register their interest in working on a school-based programme in a Special School. Student teachers and students in relevant disciplines such as therapy, social care and nursing and others, including early childcare workers and carers, will also be able to register their interest in working on this year’s Programme.
In 2023, the Inclusion Programme and Special Class elements from 2022 were combined to form one cohesive scheme for mainstream schools where the aim was to bring a more targeted approach for children with special educational needs. While the capitation rate in mainstream schools was raised to €45 in 2023, the €30 rate per week for 2024 is in line with the rate for the Inclusion Programme in previous years. This rate is cognisant of all costs associated with running a summer programme and is very favourably compared to the normal capitation during the school year, which is approximately €5 per week. To assist schools further this year, in the special class group or the combined group setting, schools also have the flexibility to consider how best to align the existing resource allocation to accommodate more children into these groups.
It is important to note that the capitation rate for special schools, which is the sector that the Department is actively encouraging to participate in the programme remains at €60 as it has been in 2023 to reflect the unique circumstances of running a programme in those settings.
In relation to the Deputy's question on the reason the DEIS programme has been changed, I wish to respond as follows:
DEIS schools who participate in both the Primary School Scheme and the DEIS Literacy and Numeracy Summer Camp Programme/Campaí Samhraidh have been requested to run both schemes concurrently. The reason being is that this coordinated approach aims to create a more inclusive learning environment for all pupils during the summer months, whilst also supporting pupils in the development and maintenance of positive relationships with their peers. This does not affect DEIS Primary Schools who opt to run only the Literacy and Numeracy Summer Camp/Campaí Samhraidh during the summer.
The Department is satisfied that the full range of supports which underpin the summer programme ensures that it remains a well-supported and important measure in supporting children with special educational needs.
