Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1072. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the steps that she will take to provide English classes in the coming months for Ukrainian children to further support their integration into their new Irish schools for the coming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40307/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2022 Summer Programme, the Inclusion Programme at primary and post-primary level offers an opportunity for schools to address the needs of migrant students such as addressing English language skills and integration. This includes students who have recently arrived in Ireland from the Ukraine. The evidence from supporting migrant children in Ireland is that for younger children, those at primary level, language development is best supported through the activities which take place in the inclusion programme, rather than separate language instruction.
At post primary level it is recognised that children of this age would benefit from language tuition as part of the summer programme. Together with the Department of Further and Higher Education, I have agreed to support the expansion of English as a Second Language (ESOL) panels in each of the 16 Education and Training Board areas.
As part of the post primary Inclusion Programme, there will be up to 5 hours available for English supports per class per week of the programme. In the first instance, schools should use their own teachers to provide this support. In these cases, the additional hours required can be claimed through the online summer programme payments portal. Where this is not possible, schools are advised to contact their local REALT (Regional Education and Language Team) Co-ordinator who will liaise with the ESOL Co-ordinator in the ETB in order to provide this support.
