Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
170. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures her Department will put in place to ensure that schools and families are not placed in the same position in future years (details supplied); if her Department has considered reopening or extending the Summer Programme application portal for schools which were unable to apply due to the narrow application window; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40760/26]
View answerDetails of the 2026 Summer Programme were communicated to all schools on the 6th May 2026. While it is acknowledged that details of the Summer Programme are typically announced earlier, the finalisation of arrangements for the 2026 programme was delayed pending confirmation that the Department of Education and Youth would receive the additional funding required to support all aspects of education.
All schools have been offered the opportunity to run a school-based programme for children with the most complex special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage.
Where a school does not intend to run a school-based programme or there is no place on the programme for an eligible child, schools were invited to make an application for the home-based programme.
There has been no change to the portal system: applications were submitted using the same process as in previous years. However, the application portals for both the school-based and the home-based programmes were open in parallel from the 6th May to the 15th May to reflect a shorter timeframe.
On Thursday, 14th May, a further email issued reminding schools of the closing date for the receipt of applications. We have received a significant number of applications from schools in relation to both the school-based and home-based programmes.
It is not proposed that the Summer Programme application portals for schools will be re-opened at this time.
