352. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to examine the unacceptable delays in issuing sanction letters for the Home Based Summer Provision Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53660/26]

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 began 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.