Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2021
524. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting on a pre-school support service; the average waiting time after the completion of an assessment of needs by CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56859/21]
View answer525. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the average number of interventions received after a child is identified as needing a pre-school support service after the completion of an assessment of needs since their initial intervention in the first 12 months by CHO area in the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56860/21]
View answer526. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for appointments in pre-school support services: the average waiting times by CHO area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56861/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 524, 525 and 526 together.
Participation of children with disabilities in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) universal pre-school programme in mainstream preschool settings is supported by the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM). The key objective of AIM is to support early learning and care providers to deliver an inclusive preschool experience, ensuring that children with a disability can fully participate in the ECCE Programme, thereby reaping the benefits of quality preschool education.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
