Department reopens summer support applications after schools complain about eight-day window

'The real-life consequences of all this is that children with additional needs are now locked out of vital education support this summer,' Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty told the Dáil

Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty said families are now being told their children are 'going to be denied and will lose out on these vital supports because of a deeply unfair and badly handled decision by the Department of Education'.

Applications for a scheme providing additional supports for schoolchildren in the summer have been reopened after schools missed a previous eight-day window.

The summer programme, formerly known as the July provision , is designed for children and young people with special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage. However, schools and parents complained earlier this month that the application system was only open for a little over a week.

In the Dáil on Thursday, Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty said families are now being told their children are "going to be denied and will lose out on these vital supports because of a deeply unfair and badly handled decision by the Department of Education".

"I have been contacted by principals, teachers, and parents who are deeply distressed. They are all telling me the same thing; they are angry, upset, and desperate to be heard. Parents are lying awake at night, worrying about what will happen to their child now. 

"How can a government, which constantly proclaims to include and support children with additional needs, allow this to happen? Schools and families have been pleading with the department to intervene, but their appeals are falling on deaf ears over and over again."

He said the application window for the scheme was only open for one week. 

"In previous years, schools had months to complete this process. Many schools simply did not have sufficient time to process applications, gather the paperwork, and complete the registration before the portal was closed. The real-life consequences of all this is that children with additional needs are now locked out of vital education support this summer. It is absolutely appalling."

Principals, teachers, and parents

In response, Tánaiste Simon Harris said the application window would be re-opened. He said the minister for education, Hildegarde Naughton, has "very much listened directly to the concerns of schools, principals, teachers, and parents".

"I am pleased to confirm the portal will be reopened to allow further schools to apply," Mr Harris said, adding that Ms Naughton will announce details of the extension "shortly".

Mr Harris told the Dáil that, in 2020, some 545 schools and nearly 23,000 children took part in the programme. Last year, more than 1,800 schools and almost 71,000 children participated.

"That is a 210% increase. This is a scheme that is rightly growing year-on-year. The intention and continued emphasis of that programme is to mitigate the impact of learning loss, if you like, on those children while the school is closed.

"I am told all stakeholders were made aware of the timeframe for the portal, but I am also very aware it is a particularly busy time for schools and the community. There is a lot going on as you get towards the end of the school year. A reminder was sent to schools, but that is somewhat missing the point.

"The point is there is a need for a longer period of time for schools to apply to get this up and running."

• Paul Hosford is the Deputy Political Editor with the Irish Examiner.

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