Vol. 566 No. 1
120 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the provision and policy in place to enable and assist pre-school children with disabilities to receive special assistance to enable them to attend pre-schools; the funding made available by his Department in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12032/03]
The health services do not have responsibility for the provision of pre-school services for children. However, health boards and specialist agencies in the health field have over the years developed some specialist pre-school services for children with disabilities and also facilitate, in certain circumstances, children with disabilities or those from disadvantaged backgrounds in accessing community and private pre-school services. The development of policy and services for pre-school children, including those with disabilities, is a matter for the Department of Education and Science. I assure the Deputy that my Department, together with the health boards and specialist agencies, will provide whatever assistance they can to that Department in this matter.
