Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 May 2013
28. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures she is putting in place to enable children with special needs access crèche and pre-school care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21832/13]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children. The programme includes a number of additional provisions to take account of children with special needs. These include an exemption from the upper age limit for qualification under the programme where a child is developmentally delayed and would benefit from starting primary school at a later age. In addition, children with special needs can apply to have the pre-school year split over two years on a pro-rata basis, for example availing of the programme for two days a week in the first year and for three days a week in the second year. Application for these exemptions must be made prior to the child commencing the programme. It is my view that it would be extremely helpful to many children, and particularly those children with special needs, if a second pre-school year were to be provided. However, the introduction of a second pre-school year would require considerable additional funding and this funding is not available because of the financial constraints under which the Government is currently operating.
The ECCE programme will continue to be evaluated and developed as resources permit. My Department has been actively working with the Department of Health, specifically the Office of Disability and Mental Health, in the context of building better supports to facilitate the inclusion of children with special needs in mainstream pre-school settings. I was successful in securing capital funding in Budget 2013 to support the ongoing improvement of the childcare sector. The funding programme (applications for which closed on 30 April 2013) will provide grants under four strands, one of which is specifically for grants to improve the accessibility of services for children with disabilities.
