Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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8. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action being taken to address the need for special needs assistants in early childhood care and education programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14828/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I will shortly launch a new access and inclusion model to enable children with disabilities to participate in the ECCE programme. Importantly, it is not based on SNAs but on a system of seven levels of progressive support. This model is tailored to the specific needs of children - moving from universal to targeted - to enable the full inclusion and meaningful participation of children with disabilities in the ECCE model. It was recommended by an expert interdepartmental group and I believe it represents the best way forward.

Some of the main supports offered under this model include: a new higher education programme in inclusion will upskill early years practitioners in inclusive early years care and education - my Department will fund a small capitation increase where service providers employ a graduate from the programme; a dedicated website containing comprehensive information resources for parents and providers; advice and support from a team of 50 experts in early years education for children with disabilities; a scheme for the provision of specialised equipment, appliances and minor building alterations; therapeutic intervention where this is needed to allow a child enrol, and fully participate in, preschool; and additional capitation to enable the preschool leader to buy in additional support or reduce the staff-child ratio where this is critical to ensuring a child’s participation.

The new model focuses on the developmental level of children with disabilities, their functional ability, their strengths and their needs. It will not focus on diagnosis, recognising that many children may not have a formal diagnosis at the time of presenting to preschool.

Service providers and parents will be able to submit applications for supports under the new model this month to allow them to plan for preschool enrolment in September 2016. It will take some time for the model to be fully implemented and working to full capacity. In the meantime, there is a commitment that all supports currently available through the HSE and various agencies will remain in place.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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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.

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I appreciate the Deputy's concerns. What I have outlined in my measure is a move and a transition to a new way. It is a transition to a new way that was developed on the basis of extensive consultation, research and work with experts who are now designing around what the research indicates may be a better way to ensure inclusion and access of our very beautiful young children who have some form of disability. I am going to trust that process with regard to that body of work and research. The Deputy is correct to identify the importance of being very careful about watching this unfold and the importance of monitoring and reviewing it. I appreciate the challenge it will be for the current system as well as for the people who are part of that system and who are working as SNAs.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for her reply. I am glad that the concerns will be taken on board and will contribute to the transition in whatever way is appropriate. Will the Minister indicate when this transition to a new model might take place? In the interim, does she anticipate that the HSE will consider any additional manner by which SNAs can be allocated in an appropriate manner, and even directly if necessary?

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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We are trying to move towards allowing for applications for a preschool enrolment in 2016. The full capacity will not be rolled out but it is going to be an additional resource, plan and implementation of efforts to be inclusive regarding children who are disabled. If I understand the Deputy's question, I am not necessarily anticipating any moves to look for additional SNAs because what is going to be rolled out initially will complement what is already there. As the process moves forward, there will be the implementation of that as a full approach to inclusion.