Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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84. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the provision that is being made within the forthcoming early years strategy for pre-school children with additional needs in terms of additional resources and supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28011/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The development of Ireland’s first Early Years Strategy for children in the early years of their lives, is being progressed in my Department. The objective is to create an innovative and dynamic blueprint for the future development of Ireland’s early years sector and a coherent approach to seeking to improve the lives of children from birth to 6 years.

The Early Years Strategy, which is expected to be published later this year, will address a range of issues affecting children in their first years of life such as child health and well-being, parenting and family support, learning and development, play and recreation and issues surrounding supports for children with special needs.

The Early Childhood Care and Education programme, which was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children before commencing primary school, includes a number of additional provisions to take account of children with special needs. These include an exemption from the upper age limit for qualification under the programme where a child is developmentally delayed and would benefit from starting primary school at a later age. In addition, children with special needs can apply to have the pre-school year split over two years on a pro-rata basis, for example availing of the programme for 2 days a week in the first year and for 3 days a week in the second year.

I am aware that the Health Service Executive does, where possible, provide additional supports to children with special needs to enable them to avail of pre-school services in mainstream pre-school settings. My Department has been working with the Department of Health in the context of building better supports to facilitate the inclusion of special needs children in mainstream pre-school settings. However, the issue of supports for children with special needs availing of services in mainstream pre-school settings remains a matter for the Department of Health and the HSE.