Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2015
431. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to ensure equal access to early years care and education, including access to the free pre-school year for children with special needs, and from minority groups. [12845/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a free and universal programme to which all children who are within the age range for eligibility and who hold an Irish PPS number qualify. This includes children from ethnic minorities and children with special needs.
Approximately 65,000 children are availing of the programme in the current school year with children born between 2 February 2010 and 30 June 2011 qualifying for the free pre-school provision.
The issue of access to the free pre-school year for children with special needs was considered when the free pre-school year was launched, and measures were introduced to make the programme more accessible for these children. These measures include an exemption from the upper age limit and permission to have the pre-school year split over two years on a pro-rata basis, where it would be in the child's best interest.
Most children with special needs avail of the free pre-school year in mainstream child care services. The Health Service Executive does, where possible, assist children with special needs who may require additional support to enable them to avail of pre-school services in mainstream settings. My Department has been working with the Department of Health and the Department of Education and Skills to build better supports to facilitate children who have special needs. The aim is to develop an agreed framework for the provision of resources to support children with special needs in mainstream child care settings.
I have established a high level Inter-Departmental Group to examine the issue of future investment in early childhood care and education, and child care for school going children. As part of its work, the Group will consider how best to make appropriate provision for children with special needs who are accessing mainstream child care services. I have asked the Group to report to me by the Summer.
