Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 July 2021
424. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education if she will address the concerns raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) regarding July provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37893/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn May 2021 the Government announced a package of supports to allow 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, as a COVID-19 pandemic response measure for summer 2021.
The total funding available to provide summer programmes this year is up to €40 million, a one hundred per cent increase on the allocation for summer programmes in 2020.
This range of programmes on offer builds on the success of the expanded programmes that ran last year and incorporates feedback from education stakeholders as to how to better support the programme for all involved in summer 2021.
Enhanced measures have been put in place to encourage participation of schools in this process, including reducing the administrative process, provision of funding to schools towards preparation and overseeing of the programmes, earlier payment of school staff and provision to recruit final year student teachers graduating this summer. In particular, the Department has put in place procedures to issue prompt payments for staff undertaking summer provision and as claims are received they will be processed and paid as quickly as possible. A dedicated helpline and email address has been available to schools since the launch of the summer programme.
Schools are permitted to employ teachers and/or SNAs from outside of their school if the staff normally employed by the school are not available for any/all of the summer programme
The Teaching Council and Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) are promoting the summer programmes with this year’s graduate teachers and Professional Masters of Education (PME) students to increase the supply of available teachers this summer. To help teachers and SNAs identify summer programme vacancies in schools, the IPPN has created a Summer Provision Noticeboard at www.educationposts.ie
Graduate teachers and PME students who have commenced their registration process with the Teaching Council are permitted to work on the summer programme where they have commenced
their registration process, have been vetted and will be in receipt of their Teaching Council number by 08 October 2021. Graduate teachers and PME students are also permitted to participate on the home-based summer programme, subject to the same conditions.
Department officials have met with advocacy groups and parents, school managerial authorities and staff representatives who have welcomed the additional resources and supports. The Department will continue to work with stakeholders to support parents in accessing summer provision and with schools to ensure that they have the resources and supports necessary to successfully run these programmes
In line with policy advice received from the NCSE, a review of the July Provision programme was commenced in 2019. This review process was paused due to the impact of COVID, during which the summer education programme was significantly enhanced and expanded to take account of the effect of school closures. The review of the programme will recommence at the earliest possible stage.
