1283. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Education and Youth if further incentives can be provided to encourage tutors to partake in the at-home July provision-summer programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62320/26]

Details of this year’s Summer Programme were published on the 6th May 2026. Funding of €62 million has been secured to ensure the continuance of the annual investment in the 2026 Summer Programme. As in previous years, all of the funding will be utilised to meet the associated costs and ensure a comprehensive programme.

All schools have been given an opportunity to run a programme over the summer months for those children who need it most so that these children can continue to be supported, nurtured and encouraged to engage in a fun and inclusive educational setting.

Our main priority is ensuring that those children with the most complex special educational needs, especially in special schools, should have access to a school-based summer programme. To encourage schools to run a Summer Programme, a range of supports and measures have been introduced. For special schools, these include a bespoke pilot programme, a national coordinator, a shorter school day and additional grant funding. For all schools, supports include key leadership roles, higher personal rate of pay for staff, enhanced capitation, a transport grant and earlier staff payments.

Where a school does not run a school-based programme or there is no place on the programme for an eligible child, schools have been invited to make an application for the home-based programme.

Under the home-based programme, grant funding is made available so that parents/legal guardians can determine the most appropriate provision required (i.e. tuition by a teacher or care support by a SNA) for their child during the summer months.

Teachers and SNAs are paid per hour of tuition/care support delivered in line with agreed terms and public service pay agreements. Public service pay is dealt with through centralised engagement and collective bargaining between Government and the public service unions.

The department’s ultimate goal remains to ensure that every child with special educational needs continues to be supported both in school and on the Summer Programme and we will continue to look at all possible measures to achieve this.

The department wishes to sincerely thank teachers and SNAs who participated in the Summer Programmes in 2026.