Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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991. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of the increase number of refusals made with respect to applications received by HSE Donegal for additional preschool supports for children with special needs for the preschool year 2016-17; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there were more refusals as a percentage of total applications received for this period than for any of the other previous four years, with a decision with respect to one application yet to be determined; if he is aware of the fact that refusal rates for this period are almost three times higher than the previous 2015-16 term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25431/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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In order to support children with a disability to access free pre-school, the IDG recommended a major new programme of supports, the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM). This model has been introduced.

AIM is a programme of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme in mainstream pre-school settings and can participate fully in the pre-school curriculum alongside their peers.It is a child centred model involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, based on the needs of the child and the service provider. The model is designed to be responsive to the needs of each individual child in the context of their pre-school setting. It will offer tailored, practical supports based on need and will not require a formal diagnosis of disability.

Levels 1 – 3 of the model involve a suite of universal supports which are designed to promote and support an inclusive culture within pre-school settings by means of a variety of educational and capacity-building initiatives for providers and practitioners. International evidence suggests that these supports, when appropriately developed, are sufficient to support many children with disabilities.

However, where a service provider, in partnership with a parent, considers that some further additional support may be necessary to meet the needs of a particular child, they can apply for one or more targeted supports under levels 4 – 7 of the model. Additional targeted supports could take the form of expert early childhood care and educational advice and mentoring (level 4), specialised equipment, appliances and minor alterations (level 5), therapeutic supports (level 6) or additional capitation to fund extra assistance in the ECCE pre-school room (level 7).

The model applies to all mainstream pre-school settings which are funded through the ECCE programme. In addition to mainstream settings, pre-school services are also offered in special pre-schools and early intervention classes which cater exclusively for children with disabilities. While the underlying vision of the new model is to cater for as many children as possible in mainstream settings, it is recognised that a small number of children will continue to need specialised services.

More information on these targeted supports is provided on a dedicated AIM website at . The relevant information and documentation required to apply for additional support can also be found on the website.

However as the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.