Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 November 2015
132. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of additional early childhood care and education special needs assistants provided for in budget 2016’s related new measures; and any additional measures and resources contained within the commitment to facilitate children with disabilities. [40859/15]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme which provides for free pre-school provision for children before commencing primary school is implemented by my Department.
While certain flexibilities had been built in to the ECCE Programme to facilitate the inclusion of children with a disability, Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures the children and young people's policy framework contained a commitment to develop a plan to facilitate the full participation of such children in the ECCE Programme. My Department has lead responsibility for the implementation of this commitment and has concluded an intensive process of deliberation and consultation on the matter in conjunction with my Department of Health and the Department of Education and Skills (and relevant stakeholder) by bringing forward a new model of supports to facilitate the full participation of children with a disability in the ECCE Programme.
As part of Budget 2016, I announced the necessary funding to implement the new model of ECCE supports for children with a disability. The new model will provide supports including enhanced continuing professional development for early years practitioners; grants for equipment, appliances and minor alterations; and access to therapeutic intervention. Funding of €15m has been provided to phase these supports in during 2016. Full year costs for these supports are estimated to be €33m from 2017 onwards.
I am satisfied that when the new model will, when fully operational, enable the full inclusion and meaningful participation of children with disabilities in the free pre-school year.
