Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On the preschool year again, there is a cross-departmental group established by the Minister, Deputy Reilly, who has responsibility for the funding of the free preschool year. My responsibility is for the educational content of the early years and I have a number of measures in that regard, which I outlined in answer to an earlier question.

There are no special needs assistants in preschool. Certain supports are provided by the HSE at that level but it is not directly under the Department of Education and Skills. It would not be within our power to establish special needs assistants in preschools.

However, in a recent circular, we indicated clearly that children who have special needs assistants must have individual care plans but it is in the school system and I think the Deputy's question was more about the preschool system.

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