Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 396: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will respond to correspondence (details supplied). [33117/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the implementation of the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which is being introduced in January 2010.

The ECCE scheme is a general one and services participating will be required to make reasonable accommodation for children with special needs in accordance with the Equal Status Acts 2000 and 2004. However, the scheme takes account of a number of issues to accommodate children with special needs.

While the age range in which children will qualify for the scheme is, generally, between 3 years 3 months and 4 years 6 months on 1 September each year, exceptions to the upper age limit will be considered where a child cannot start primary school until s/he is more than 5 years 6 months of age, due to either being assessed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) as being developmentally delayed or having a physical or sensory disability which prevents the child from availing of age-appropriate education. In such cases, the pre-school year relevant to such children will be taken as their qualifying year.

To apply for an exemption to be made on either of these grounds, a letter should be forwarded to the Childcare Directorate in my Office stating the reasons for the exception sought. The letter should be accompanied by a copy of the child's birth certificate, details of his or her Personal Public Service (PPS) number and the name and address of the pre-school service in which s/he will be enrolled. In addition, the letter should be accompanied either by a supporting assessment report from the HSE or, where relevant, by a letter from the Principal of the local primary school confirming the age admissions policy applied. as having a special need which will delay his or her entry to primary school. Given the timeframe available before the introduction of the first period of free pre-school provision in January next, it is accepted that not all parents will have had time to apply for and receive an assessment report in advance of this date. To accommodate parents in this position, a professional assessment other than from the HSE may be accepted. This would not include assessments provided, for example, by a General Practitioner.

Additionally, the general requirement that a child would be expected to attend 4 or 5 days each week will not apply to children with special needs where a shorter week would be more appropriate to their needs. Many specialist pre-school services arrange for children attending their services to also attend a mainstream service for 1, 2, or 3 days a week and this will continue to be facilitated under the ECCE. In the case in question, I understand that the reason for shorter hours of attendance at pre-school will arise from the fact that a Special Needs Assistant will be available to the child for less than the 15 hours per week available under the ECCE. While I regret that this will be the case, I would point out that attendance for the full period of provision each week is not compulsory and no child, particularly in the circumstances outlined, will be precluded from availing of his or her pre-school place on this basis.