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	Access to the free pre-school year for children with special needs has been described as &quot;inconsistent&quot; and &quot;not satisfactory&quot; by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.</p>
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	Up to 65,000 children are eligible for the current pre-school year but parents and childcare providers say many are losing out because they do not have vital pre-school assistants.</p>
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	But without a pre-school assistant, some parents say their children would be unable to avail of the scheme.</p>
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	The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has acknowledged that the current co-ordination and provision of supports for children with special needs is &quot;not satisfactory&quot;.</p>
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	It confirmed that improving the situation is a &quot;priority&quot; and is working with other departments to find a solution.</p>
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	Early Childhood Ireland chief executive Teresa Heeney said the move is welcome, but warned: &quot;A solution cannot wait until a medical model is available where there are enough speech therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, etc, in place to ensure that all assessments are completed before a child enters a free pre-school year.&quot;</p>
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	Bernie Coghlan&#39;s son James (4) has autism and is nearing the end of his first year in pre-school. She says he &quot;could not possibly go into pre-school without an assistant because he is non-verbal&quot;.</p>
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	The mother from Carlanstown in Co Meath said: &quot;While he is saying some words, he does not have the level of communication and he doesn&#39;t have the level of awareness, or social interaction that a lot of his peers would have. His assistant provides him with the opportunity to integrate himself into that environment.&quot;</p>
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	Tanya Malone from Caulstown, Co Meath, said her daughter Beth (4), who has cerebral palsy, has also thrived as result of having a pre-school assistant.</p>
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	&quot;Beth only receives six hours a week so (although) she is in school Monday to Friday, she only has an SNA Thursday and Friday, which is really hard for a child with cerebral palsy.</p>
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	&quot;Her fine motor skills are not there and only for her SNA for those six hours a week she wouldn&#39;t be half the child she is now. &quot;</p>
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	Bernie and Tanya are supporting the Meath Fight for the Future campaign to get access to pre-school for children with special needs.</p>
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	The Department of Children and Youth Affairs (CYA) confirmed it has agreed with counterparts in the Departments of Health,and Education and Skills, to seek a solution.</p>
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	<a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/education/children-with-disabilities-missing-out-on-preschool-31284824.html">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/education/children-with-disabilities-missing-out-on-preschool-31284824.html</a></p>
