Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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14. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he is now in a position to provide extra resources to child care providers, in respect of children with additional and special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14456/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Additional provisions are made for children with special needs who access the free pre-school year under the Early Childhood Care and Education programme. These provisions include the option to avail of the programme on a pro-rata basis over a two year time period, and also the option to avail of an exemption to the upper age limit for entry to the programme.

The majority of children with special needs are in a position to access the free pre-school provision in mainstream childcare settings, but I want to ensure the consistency of support for those children who cannot avail of pre-school services without specialised support. My Department, in consultation with the Department of Health and the Department of Education and Skills, is working to develop an agreed framework for the provision of resources to support children with special needs in mainstream childcare settings.

The high level Inter-Departmental Group which I established to examine the issue of future investment in early years and school age care and education is considering all aspects of provision, including the issue of support for children with special needs who wish to access mainstream services. The Group is still in the early stages of its deliberations. I expect that a report will be provided to me in June this year. The Government will then be in a position to consider the direction of future investment in the sector, including in the very important area of special needs.