Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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143. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children with special educational needs participating in the early childhood care and education scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48679/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, 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 before they commence primary school. The programme is a free and universal provision to which all children have access and figures in relation to special needs children availing of this provision are not collected.

To ensure that the ECCE programme is more accessible to children with special needs a number of additional provisions are in place. 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.

The Department does not have information in relation to the number of children with special needs currently participating in the ECCE programme. About 200 children avail of the over-age exemption and the pro-rata provision each year.