I propose to take Questions Nos. 506, 522 and 523 together.
Last December, I announced my decision to pause the proposed rule changes on overage exemptions to allow for a consultation process where the voice of parents of children with disabilities could be heard in relation to the proposed change.
This consultation process, which will be led jointly by my Department and the Department of Education and Skills, with the assistance of the National Disability Authority, will involve a number of steps, including:
I. Review of the relevant literature and policy;
II. Review of existing data on overage exemptions, including trends in applications and approvals;
III. Profile of children currently in receipt of overage exemptions;
IV. Review of existing data and trends in school starting age;
V. Identification of options for managing exemptions going forward (including the criteria and application, appraisal and appeals processes) and consider the impact of each option identified for: children and families; pre-schools and schools (including practitioners and teachers); the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (and its respective Agencies, policies and programmes); and the Department of Education and Skills (and its respective Agencies, policies and programmes) (this step will be led by DCYA and DES)
VI. Development, testing and issuing of a series of questions for parents of children with disabilities and preparation of a report on the results;
VII. Identification of key stakeholders (including parents) for consultation;
VIII. Facilitation of an Open Policy Debate with these stakeholders in conjunction with DCYA and DES.
Separately, political parties are welcome to make a submission to my Department on this issue.
I am very grateful to the National Disability Authority (NDA) for its assistance in managing this process on behalf of both Departments. The NDA will compile a report of the evidence, the findings of the survey, and findings of the Open Policy Debate for consideration by both Departments by end June 2018.