Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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12. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when he will publish the implementation plan for the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 for children with special needs; and the arrangements in place to support children with disabilities in preschool services, given that the new disability support scheme will not commence until September 2016 at the earliest. [3206/16]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I have been conscious for some time of the difficulty experienced by some children with a disability in accessing and benefiting fully from the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. With this in mind, I requested that an Interdepartmental Group, led by this Department, be established with a brief to bring forward recommendations to address this issue.

The Group has concluded its work and its recommendations were fully accepted and funded by Government. I announced, as part of Budget 2016, the necessary funding to implement the new model with costs estimated to be €17.7 m in 2016 and with full year cost estimated to be €33 m from 2017 onwards. This Group has identified a practical, workable model for meeting the needs of children with a disability and the allocation of funding is clear evidence of the Government's commitment to supporting vulnerable children.

When established, the new model will focus on the developmental level of children with disabilities, their functional ability and their needs. It will not focus on diagnosis, recognising that many children may not have a formal diagnosis at the time of presenting to preschool.

The model, when fully operational, will deliver seven levels of support to enable the full inclusion and meaningful participation of children with disabilities in the ECCE Programme. These supports, which move from universal to highly targeted supports based on the needs of the child, include: enhanced continuing professional development for early years practitioners; grants for equipment, appliances and minor alterations, increased capitation for children with very complex needs, as well as access to therapeutic intervention.

Two groups have been established to oversee and implement the new model; a Cross Sectoral Implementation Group will oversee and monitor implementation, and a Project Group, which will implement the model for roll-out by September 2016. Further details in relation to this measure are expected to be available in June this year.

Until the new model is available in September 2016, my Department, the Department of Education and Skills and the HSE will continue to make a range of supports available to children with disabilities in ECCE.

Publication of the EPSEN Act Implementation Plan is a matter for the Minister for Education and Skills.