Dr. Fergal Lynch:

Most important, well-structured investment benefits children directly and that should be our key concern.

The interdepartmental group's terms of reference refer specifically to children with special needs. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has recognised the problems faced by some children in accessing the free preschool programme, although some measures have been in place to try to ensure easier access. These include an exemption from the upper age limit for qualification under the programme where the child would benefit from starting primary school at a later age. In addition, the preschool year can be split over two years on a pro rata basis, for example, using the programme for two days a week in the first year and three days a week in the second year.

Recently, the Departments of Children and Youth Affairs, Education and Skills, and Health agreed to work together to improve things by developing a new model of supports for pre-school children with special needs. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is leading the process with full and active support from the other two Departments and their respective agencies. A group comprising representatives from these three Departments, the HSE, Tusla, the National Council for Special Education, the National Disability Authority, Better Start and the Dublin City Childcare Committee has started its work. We aim to have an agreed model by early September, with a view to making a cross-departmentally supported proposal for the resources required in time for the Estimates process. There will, no doubt, be challenges to agreeing an appropriate and workable model for children and implementing it but we are determined to address this long-standing issue to the benefit of children with special needs. Any new model may benefit from piloting.

To conclude, the interdepartmental group is working to identify some realistic costed options for Government to consider in the early years and school-age sector over the coming years. It will, of course, be a matter for Government to decide on its priorities. Our hope is that the group's work will assist the Government in making important decisions in this area. I thank the Chairman for the invitation to present to the committee. My colleagues and I will be pleased to hear members' views and to answer questions.