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Services for People with Disabilities.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2010

Wednesday, 3 February 2010

Questions (141, 142)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

206 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that the right to preschool and primary school access is fully vindicated in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5482/10]

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Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

222 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children the additional measures she has put in place to ensure that children with disabilities and special needs are provided with the free preschool child care year recently introduced; her views on whether it is anomalous and unjust that while able bodied children can avail of this new service, the lack of appropriate staff precludes children with disabilities and special needs from availing of this child care facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5481/10]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 222.

I have responsibility for the implementation of the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which commenced in January of this year.

All pre-school services participating in the ECCE scheme are required to make reasonable accommodation for children with special needs, as required under the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2004. In addition, I understand that specific supports for children with special needs who wish to access mainstream pre-school services, are provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Parents seeking such supports, including the parents of the child referred to by the Deputy, should contact their Local Health Office in this regard.

The ECCE scheme includes a number of provisions specifically intended to assist children with special needs. One of these is that, while the age range in which children qualify for the scheme is, generally, between 3 years 3 months and 4 years 6 months in September of the relevant year, exceptions are allowed where a child has been assessed as having a special need which will delay his or her entry to primary school. In such cases, the pre-school year relevant to such children will be taken as their qualifying year.

Additionally, the general requirement that a child would be expected to attend 4 or 5 days each week will not apply to children with special needs where a shorter week would be more appropriate to their needs. Many specialist pre-school services arrange for children attending their services to also attend a mainstream service for 1, 2 or 3 days a week. As a result, 1 full week place in the mainstream service could cater for 2 or more children with special needs on a pro-rata basis. Where appropriate, children with special needs attending a mainstream pre-school service on a pro-rata basis can avail of a second free pre-school year. Should additional flexibility in the arrangements for the scheme be required by specialist pre-school services for children with special needs, these will also be considered.

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