Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 June 2026
189. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps she will take to resolve delays with the schools summer programme, including in a particular school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48255/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the 2026 Summer Programme were communicated to all schools on the 6th May 2026. 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.
It is important to note that staffing allocations are made to schools based on the number of children they are catering for in accordance with the published terms and conditions of the programme.
The staffing allocation for special class groups in the Primary School Scheme is typically the same as the special class resource allocation which exists during the school year. Where this is not the case, the Department will engage directly with individual schools so that all of the children enrolled in special classes can partake.
The staffing allocation for pupils with special educational needs and/or pupils at risk of educational disadvantage enrolled in mainstream classes is more favourable than during the school term. For each group of 12 pupils participating, one teacher and one Special Needs Assistant (SNA) is allocated. This is compared to the pupil teacher ratio of one teacher for every 23 pupils during term-time.
Part of the role of the Summer Programme Manager Role in a school is establishing and ensuring that their programme operates within resources as sanctioned by the Department. As outlined in the terms and conditions of the programme, schools are expected to maximise group sizes at the outset to enable the participation of as many children as possible in the Summer Programme. To support this objective and before approval to run the programme can be given, a minimum threshold of two-thirds of the group size applies. Regardless of the number of children who attend on a given day during programme, staff who participate on the Summer Programme will be paid for each day worked.
On making an application for the home-based programme, both schools and parents received acknowledgement emails which outlined that decisions regarding a student's placement on the programme would be communicated after the school-based applications had been reviewed. Department officials have confirmed that sanction letters for the home-based programme commenced issuing on the 18th June 2026.
A Department helpline is available for schools and parents at 090 648 4292 to address any specific queries regarding this year’s Summer Programme. Queries concerning the school-based scheme can be directed to the schoolsummerprogramme@education.gov.ie. Queries concerning the Home-based scheme can be directed to the homebasedsummerprogram@education.gov.ie.
