David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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385. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way children’s disabilities are being facilitated in preschool settings; the amount made available to support such facilitation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6040/15]

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 preschool year to all eligible children before they commence primary school. The programme, which is a free and universal provision, represents an annual investment of approximately €175 million.

To ensure that the ECCE programme is more accessible to children with special needs, a number of additional provisions have been added. 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 preschool 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.

Many children with special needs avail of the free preschool year in mainstream childcare services without any additional supports. I am aware that the Health Service Executive does, where possible, assist children with special needs who may require additional support to enable them to avail of preschool services in mainstream settings.

My Department has been working with the Department of Health in the context of building better supports to facilitate the children with special needs. The aim is to develop an agreed framework for the provision of resources to support special needs children in mainstream childcare settings.