Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the pressing need for schools to ensure there is sufficient accommodation for children with additional needs. I also appreciate the importance of early intervention. Indeed, substantial and significant developments have been made in the early learning and childcare sector to ensure children with additional needs have full access to the ECCE programme through the access and inclusion model, AIM. The Senator has unearthed a serious issue that requires the Department of Education and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to sit down in conjunction with the city and county childcare committees to identify alternative locations to support both providers, be they private or community. Those families need that support and the reassurance the service will be available in their area in September.