Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On that point, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs wrote to the committee this morning to notify us that his Department was leading an initiative with the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Health to agree a model to address the requirements of children with special needs in mainstream preschools. The communication states: "It is well recognised that co-ordination and provision of appropriate supports for preschool children with special needs is not satisfactory across the country and while some efforts have been made to resolve the matter, no model has been agreed". The Minister has asked the committee to report in September with proposals and full costings for consideration as part of the Estimates process. This discussion will feed into that process.