Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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99. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of grant support available in respect of special needs children of pre-school age attending early intervention units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41572/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I presume that the Deputy is referring specifically to the early intervention classes for children with autism in mainstream and special schools. Children with autism can enrol in these early intervention classes from the age of three. There are now some 76 early intervention classes in recognised primary and special schools and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) will establish further classes where the need is identified. My Department also provides funding through the Home Tuition Scheme for children with autism who are unable to access school placements and for children from age 2.5 who are too young to enrol in an early intervention class. In addition to the general costs of operating these classes capitation grants are paid in respect of the children enrolled. Typically other grants are included in the annual grant payment to schools and as such are not capable of being separately identified as requested by the Deputy.

Separately, as the Deputy will be aware, children with special needs of pre-school age are provided for through the delivery of the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme which was introduced in 2010. Furthermore the HSE provides for the inclusion of children with special needs in early years settings under their auspices.