162. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the summer programme 2026 for an individual (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47900/26]

Details 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.

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 18th June 2026.