Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 June 2016
671. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to consider providing greater flexibility in providing an exemption for early childhood care and education scheme eligibility criteria for second year placements for children born before 1 January 2012 to facilitate children who, in the opinion of their school principals, are not deemed socially or emotionally ready, to progress into school. [14374/16]
View answer672. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to allow a child (details supplied) to access a second year early childhood care and education scheme placement on the grounds that the child is not socially or emotionally ready to progress into school. [14375/16]
View answer675. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to allow a person (details supplied) to access a second year early childhood care and education placement on the grounds that the child is not socially or emotionally ready to progress into school. [14415/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 671, 672 and 675 together.
In Budget 2016 it was announced that, from September 2016, children will be eligible to attend free pre-school from the age of 3 years until they start primary school (once the child is not older than 5 years and 6 months at the end of the pre-school year i.e. end June). From September 2016, children who are over the age of 4 years and 8 months at the beginning of the relevant preschool year, will not be eligible to avail of the ECCE programme. The only exception to this rule is an exemption on the grounds of disability or special needs, the criteria for which are set out below. The age range for eligibility for children enrolling for the programme in September 2016 is 1 January 2012 to the 31 August 2013.
Exemptions to this rule can currently be made in the event that a child has been diagnosed as having a special/additional need. Current policy requires that any request for an exemption from ECCE eligibility criteria must be supported by a medical assessment report from the HSE/medical specialist specifying the child's special need and diagnosis. At present, this requirement is necessary to maintain a clear and standard basis for applying exemptions and is not intended to undermine the view of a parent or teacher in relation to a child's need.
The following specialist/ medical reports are accepted as supporting documentation when applying for an exemption under the ECCE programme:
Speech and Language Therapist
Occupational Therapist
Senior Psychologist
Physiotherapist
Paediatrician
Neurologist
Psychiatrist
Psychotherapist
Cardiologist
Oncologist
Ophthalmologist
Otolaryngologist (ENT specialist)
Gastroenterologist
My understanding is that the above is not an exhaustive list and a report from a medical practitioner or healthcare professional who is qualified to diagnose a disability is acceptable.
In November 2015, my predecessor Dr. James Reilly, launched a new model to support children with a disability to fully participate in the ECCE programme. Work in relation to the detailed development and implementation of this model is well advanced, with a view to introducing the model from September 2016 onward. The new Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) will not focus on medical diagnosis but rather on the developmental level of children with a disability, their functional ability, their strengths and their needs. On this basis, my Department intends to review the current process for providing exemptions to ECCE eligibility criteria, i.e. a medical-based assessment. However, this review will need to build on the current work in relation to the development of the new model of supports and will take some time to complete.
