Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 November 2018
202. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the options for a person (details supplied) applying for an overage exemption for the ECCE programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49899/18]
View answerCurrent policy requires that any request for an overage exemption from the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme eligibility criteria must be supported by a letter from a HSE/Medical Specialist, (not a GP or Public Health Nurse (PHN)), specifically recommending an extra year of pre-school to be in the best interests of the child.
This requirement is not intended to undermine the view of any parent, teacher, GP or PHN in relation to a child's needs but rather to maintain a clear and standard basis for applying for exemptions.
Examples of the type of specialist/medical letters accepted in order to approve an exemption are as follows: Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Senior Psychologist, Neurologist, Psychiatrist, Cardiologist, Oncologist, Ophthalmologist, Otolaryngologist (ENT Specialist), and Gastroenterologist.
This is not an exhaustive list however, it provides an example of what may be accepted.
There is no specific deadline for overage exemptions at present however the issue of overage exemptions is being reviewed as part of a wider consultation process carried out by the National Disability Authority.
The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with a disability can access and fully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. AIM is a child-centred model, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, based on the needs of the child and the pre-school setting they are attending. A child does not require a diagnosis of a disability in order to avail of AIM supports. It is open to the parents and pre-school provider of the child in question to make an application for targeted AIM supports on the child's behalf. Further information about AIM can be found on the website www.aim.gov.ie.
All ECCE overage exemption requests must be submitted via email to: eyqueries@dcya.gov.ie or alternatively by post to Overage Exemptions, Early Years Division, Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Block 1 Floor 2, Miesian Plaza, 50-58 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2.
