Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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299. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will assist a disability service for young people (details supplied) to run the summer programme; if she will ensure that her Department officials engage with this service to facilitate same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21676/23]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Department recently announced details of the 2023 Summer Programme on 9 February 2023. All schools have an opportunity to run a programme for those children that need it the most.

The central theme for this year’s programme is, ‘Building Confidence and Connections’. The primary aim of this theme is to help our children and young people to realise their potential, to be resilient in dealing with the normal stresses of their lives, to take care of their physical wellbeing and to have a sense of purpose, connection and belonging to their school community.

The Department has engaged with management bodies, schools and parents with a view to encouraging more schools to participate in the 2023 programme.

This year’s school based programme is open to pupils enrolled in special schools, special classes, pupils who have complex special educational needs in mainstream classes and those who are most at risk of educational disadvantage.

The main priority in 2023 is that those children with the most complex special educational needs, especially in special schools, should have access to a school-based summer programme.

A Department helpline is available for schools and parents at 09064 84292 to address any specific queries regarding this year’s scheme or queries can be directed to schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie. Participating schools can also request additional resources from the Department to run their programme.

This year’s Home-based programme will be available for pupils with complex special educational needs where their school is not running a Summer Programme or a place on a school-based programme is unavailable. Further details will be published shortly along with full details on eligibility criteria. Full information, when available, will issue to schools directly and will be published on www.gov.ie/summerprogramme.

As in previous years, where parents source and procure a Private Group Provider for the Home-based programme, private providers will be required to be in compliance with the published terms and conditions for Private Group Provider Arrangements. These terms and conditions will be available on www.gov.ie/summerprogramme, the details of which may be a suitable arrangement for this organisation.

Again, a Department helpline is available at 09064 84292 to address any specific queries regarding this year’s scheme. Alternatively queries can be directed to: homebasedsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie