Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2026
137. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures she is taking to ensure that every special school has a summer programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38104/26]
View answerDetails of the 2026 Summer Programme were announced on 6th May. As in 2025, the programme will be underpinned by funding of €62 million to ensure its continuation.
All schools have been given the opportunity to run a Summer Programme for children with the most complex special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage. The registration portals for both the school-based programme and the home-based programme were open until 15th May 2026.
All schools, including special schools, were invited to apply to run a school-based programme. The Summer Programme is reliant on schools and their staff choosing to participate on a voluntary basis. To encourage participation, a range of supports and measures have been introduced. For special schools, these include a bespoke pilot programme, the appointment of a national coordinator, a shorter school day and additional grant funding. For all schools, supports include key leadership roles, higher personal rates of pay for staff, enhanced capitation funding, a transport grant and earlier processing of staff payments.
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, my department saw a much larger number of schools taking part, particularly in primary schools.
Schools have also been given the flexibility to engage staff that are not employed in their schools. A staff portal is available on EducationPosts.ie for teachers and SNAs to register their interest in working on the programme in Special Schools. Student teachers and students in social care, various therapies, nursing and others, including early learning and childcare practitioners, are also able to register their interest in working on this year’s Programme.
In 2024, a new role of Student Teacher Placement in Special Schools was introduced to encourage student teachers to participate in the summer programme. Paid placements ran from the 3rd week in May to the end of the Programme, greatly benefitting schools during this busy period. Special Schools were able to recruit up to two student teachers (i.e. graduate teachers and/or final year PME student teachers), bolstering the capacity of schools to deliver the programme. This role is expected to continue again in 2026.
All of the supports and incentives introduced in recent years have been designed to increase participation by enabling schools to offer a Summer Programme. These measures are aimed at maximising the number of children who can access a school-based programme, with a particular focus on ensuring that children with the most complex needs receive targeted support.
Full details of the programme are published at: www.gov.ie/summerprogramme
