Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2021
225. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the status of a case (details supplied) which relates to two primary school going children with learning difficulties in the same family who were allocated reduced July provision hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36881/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the home-based programme the allocation is 10 hours per week for 4 weeks where a student’s school is not participating in a school-based programme. The allocation is done on a per household basis with adjusted allocations for siblings.
Allocations of time for siblings broadly reflect how children may be grouped if they were in the same class at school. This is where one teacher is allocated to a class of six students with complex needs in schools.
However to meet the specific needs of different siblings with special needs in the home, an increased shared allocation is provided for siblings as set out in the table below:
|
Number of siblings |
2 Children |
3 Children |
4 Children |
|
Number of Hours per week |
15 per week for 4 weeks |
20 per week for 4 weeks |
25 per week for 4 weeks |
Separate allocations of 10 hours per week will be provided to a child where that child is:
- Attending school at a different educational level to their sibling – (i.e. one child is primary and the other is post-primary)
- One child is in a specialised setting (i.e. one child in a special class or a special school and the other child in mainstream)
- Where two eligible children are each in a specialised setting (i.e. a special class or a special school)
- Or where one sibling is living in a separate home.
The family referred to by the Deputy did not meet the conditions to receive separate allocations and have been advised accordingly in correspondence from the Department.
The allocations for the 2021 summer programme are independent of any allocations made during the Supplementary Programme, which was put in place during the period of school closures earlier in the year.
The Department is satisfied that the allocation of supports to families where siblings are undertaking a home based programme is fair, equitable and reflective of how the home based programme is generally provided when more than one child avails of the provision in a family home. The fact that there are circumstances where additional hours are provided, as outlined above, when children have differing levels of need, school setting or residence means the scheme is responsive to these situations.
