Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 575: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the provisions that exist, to ensure that children with special needs can avail of their full entitlement to the early childhood care and education scheme, in view of the fact that many children are being denied a full 15 hours assistant allocation due Departmental cuts (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25125/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school.

The programme includes a number of provisions to enable children with special needs to benefit fully from the programme. These include an option for children with special needs to apply to have the pre-school year split over two years on a pro-rata basis, for example availing of the programme 2 days a week in the first year and over 3 days a week in the second year. Applications for this option must be made prior to the child commencing the programme so that the necessary arrangements can be made with the childcare facility.

In addition, the upper age limit for participation in the programme (4 years and 6 months) may be extended where a child is not in a position to commence primary school until s/he is more than 5 years 6 months of age because s/he has been assessed as developmentally delayed. Applications for such extensions are examined by the Department on a case-by-case basis.