Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will intervene to ensure that the access and inclusion model is made available to children in early start places in schools, who are not part of the early childhood and care education scheme; and if she will intervene in this matter for a child in Dublin West (details supplied). [21472/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Access and Inclusion Model funded by my colleague, the Minister of Children and Youth Affairs, was developed specifically for the ECCE scheme. Early Start is funded by my Department. Early Start centres are based in 40 primary schools in areas of social disadvantage (DEIS band 1). In comparison to ECCE centres, Early Start centres are staffed by primary school teachers and a childcare assistant also works with each group. This teacher led staffing arrangement and comparatively favourable staff to child ratio is intended to support a range of special educational needs associated with concentrated disadvantage.

As I understand it the teachers in early start units can also avail of the full range of teacher training provided by PDST and the SESS (Special Needs Support Service) and they can access support from the Visiting Teachers Services ( Deaf and Blind) as required.