Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the access and inclusion model that was launched in November 2015 to support children with a disability in ECCE settings. I recognise what the Minister has said with regard to diagnosis. She is quite right that it is very likely that many children will not have a diagnosis by the time they access these services. The model is welcome as it incorporates many new approaches to enable full inclusion and meaningful participation for children with disabilities. Aspects of the model are certainly measures that Sinn Féin would support. If implemented correctly, these could address many issues facing children in the ECCE programmes. However, I am not convinced that the model is without its faults. I know this policy was not of the current Minister's making and that she is keeping it under review. That is why the question was tabled. Let us consider the sector as a whole. Obviously, there are family resource centres and private providers which provide ECCE programmes so it is a rather mixed sector. Our concern is that now, and potentially into the future, SNAs would be provided on an ad hocbasis which would not be adequate and we would not consider that to be a satisfactory situation.

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