Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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74. To ask the Minister for Health if, regarding the new access and inclusion model, AIM, in preschools and recent incidences of children with special educational needs, SEN, who were provided with SEN supports previously but who are to have these supports withdrawn henceforth; if he has met with his colleague, the Minister of State to further examine and discuss same; and the measures he will take to ensure that all supports currently available through the various agencies will remain in place for 2016/2017 during this transition period. [22968/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, is the responsibility of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has brought forward a new model of supports to facilitate the full participation of children with a disability in the ECCE Programme. The new Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) will provide supports including enhanced continuing professional development for early years practitioners; grants for equipment, appliances and minor alterations; and access to therapeutic intervention. Funding of €15m has been provided to phase these supports in during 2016. Full year costs for these supports are estimated to be €33m from 2017 onwards. This model of supports was launched on 18th November last by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs with my full support and the support of my Government colleague, Minister for Education and Skills.

Improving access to therapy services for children in primary care and in disability services is a particular priority for the Government. Building on additional investment in recent years, funding of €8m was provided to the HSE in 2016 to expand the provision of Speech and Language Therapy in primary care and the further development of early intervention therapy services under the Progressing Disabilities Programme to facilitate the inclusion of children with a disability in mainstream pre-school settings, as part of the rollout of the new inclusive preschools model.

It should be noted that while the Health Service Executive has no statutory obligation to provide assistant supports for children with special needs wishing to avail of the ECCE scheme, it has, to date, worked at local level and in partnership with the relevant disability service providers to address individual needs as they arise. This has been done, for example, by funding special pre-schools that cater specifically for children with disabilities. In some limited and specific cases at local level, disability services have in the past also facilitated children with a disability to attend mainstream pre-schools by providing additional supports where possible and where resources are available.

Within this context, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the issues he has raised.