397. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeline of payments for the summer programme. [49571/26]

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.

Since 2022, schools running the school-based Summer Programme have utilised the Department’s Esinet system to submit payment claims. In doing so, this allows claims to be processed on an ongoing basis during the summer. Payments for the school-based summer programme are generally paid in the next available payroll following the submission of fully completed payment claims by schools.

Payment for the Home-Based Summer Programme 2026 will issue to teachers/SNAs via the Non–Teaching Staff (NTS) payroll operated by the Department. Payment is made directly to the teacher/SNA’s bank account. It is recommended that completed forms are submitted as soon as possible after the programme of tuition/care support has concluded and no later than the deadline date of 04 September 2026 to facilitate earlier processing of payments. It is expected that payment for the Home-based Summer Programme will commence issuing from 24 September 2026.