Ms Teresa Heeney:

I thank the Deputy for the question. We know that many parents have been very concerned about the fact that their children with additional needs have not had access to supports since the shutdown in March. We have made a suggestion to the Department through the advisory group that Ms Quinn has just referred to that an initiative could be developed over the summer for those children similar to the scheme in primary schools. It is a suggestion we think the Department should take up and should investigate whether or not early year settings can reopen or provide some support for children with additional needs who had been attending their services in March.