Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A review is under way into the access and inclusion model, AIM, but we are unlikely to see an outcome from it for another two years. In the interest of vulnerable special educational needs, SEN, children in particular, it has to be fast-tracked. I am aware of an early age manager from County Longford who has been in touch with the Minister and the Department. She is desperately seeking funding and support for two children with special needs who, unfortunately, are not yet of ECCE age. It is clear we need a strong suite of supports for SEN children in the early years sector, which means interim support for SEN children who to date do not qualify for additional supports, such as the two children identified in County Longford. In respect of the case brought to the Minister's attention, I know how hard the team at the facility work and the additional strides in training that staff and the owner have undergone to provide the necessary supports for these children.

If we are serious about promoting an inclusive service that caters for all children, the operators, parents and staff need to know that the supports will be there to help children who need additional assistance. Of the two young children brought to the Minister's attention by my constituent, one has Angelman syndrome but, unfortunately, as they are outside the ECCE age group, they have no AIM worker, yet the facility is required to provide full-time one-to-one care and supervision. The second child is due to join the facility in March. He too will be outside the ECCE age and, similarly, will need a dedicated primary carer to help ensure he reaches his optimal development.

We have seen over recent weeks how hard parents of SEN children have to fight for the most basic educational rights. I am heartened by the early efforts that both the Minister and the Minister of State have made, but the clearest signal we can send to parents and children, if we are serious about SEN education, is to address it from the bottom up. We need to set out a marker for ourselves and how we move forward with the early years education system.

I could sum up my contribution but I do not think I could accurately communicate the magnitude of the problem or of the issues facing many early education providers. If the House will indulge me, I will endeavour to give voice to the young crèche and preschool owner from County Longford who stated her case so eloquently and passionately in her email to the Minister. She wrote that these children come from working-class backgrounds and that she is appalled and ashamed that people like her need to beg and plead on behalf of the children and their families for the Government to listen to them and to put appropriate supports in place for the children and many others in the country who are in a similar position.

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