Laois/Offaly TD hits out against Summer Provision cuts

Local Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley has addressed the Dáil on the need for proper resourcing for the Summer Provision. He has highlighted how cuts would severely impact children in Laois and Offaly.

Speaking on a Sinn Féin motion to ensure that the Summer Provision is properly resourced, Deputy Stanley said that he has raised the need for Special Education Provision in the Dáil many times.

"I recently had it confirmed to me that a number of Laois schools will get extra special classes for children with autism in the next school year. That is a good start, but more must be done," the TD said.

"The Sinn Féin motion seeks to address a further down grading and defunding of those programmes that are vital to children in special education during the summer months. We are highlighting that this Government has overseen the random lottery that seems to dictate whether a child's right to summer provision is delivered or not."

"There’s the Government decision to cut the capitation payment from €45 to just €30 per week, which seriously undermines the quality and type of activities that can be offered to those children that do manage to access a summer provision placement in a mainstream school. 

The serious shortage of school-based summer programmes, as home tuition is not suitable for many children and places too great a burden on parents to find a tutor’’.

“The Summer Provision is more than just a get-together for special education children," Deputy Stanley continued.

"I spoke to the parent of a special education child this week. He said that the provision of a summer provision place is the difference between having a withdrawn, quiet, unsociable child and a happy, outgoing, confident, and chatty child.

The opportunity to mix, socialise and take part in activities cannot be underestimated. To see the smiles of children taking part in the Summer Programme would gladden your heart. Especially after so many lost out on those Summer Experiences due to Covid’’.

“My call is for the Government to immediately reverse the funding cut made to the summer provision capitation payments. Action must commence so that far more school-based summer provision is made available in future.

The model for allocation of special education teaching hours must be revised, so that regard is had to complex needs as a criterion, because failing to do so will exclude children with complex needs from receiving the special teaching supports they require which will drive more into special schools, counter to the agenda of equality and inclusion.”