Education Minister calls for schools to take part in Summer Programme

The Education Minister, Norma Foley has urged all schools to take part in the expanded summer schools programme this year.

81,000 children will be eligible to participate in camps and classes for five weeks in July and August.

That's four times as many as normal, with the state investing 40 million euro in the plan.

For the first time, all students in special schools and those with complex needs in mainstream education will be eligible to take part.

Minister Foley appealed to schools to become involved, saying any difficulties in the system have been sorted out.