I am taking this Topical Issue with my colleague, Deputy Lahart, on behalf of the children and parents affected by Nexus preschool, which is a service provider based in Knocklyon, but which has centres and provision in communities across Dublin Mid-West and Dublin South-West. Nexus preschool provides specialist educational programmes for children with autism spectrum disorder, many of whom have been unable to secure appropriate school placements. In recent times, the service has been informed by Tusla that, as a registered early years service, it is not in a position to enrol children aged six years or older. The issue is that the service provider has, in fact, supported children aged over six for the past number of years, with the knowledge of the local special educational needs organiser, SENO, in situations where there are not sufficient school places for those children. We are not talking about a scenario affecting only one or two children. Across the sites it operates, if Nexus is not allowed to proceed with registering these children for September, we could be looking at up to 60 children without appropriate support. This is a matter of distress to those children and their parents. I understand that Tusla is acting in good faith with regard to the regulations in place for early years providers. However, a precedent seems to have been set in recent years whereby this service was allowed to continue to register children over six years of age. Will consideration be given to a ministerial exemption and-or constructive engagement with the provider to get things to where they need to be? We also need to look at the range of powers and options available to Tusla under the early years and childcare legislation and regulations as to what can be done to ensure compliance with those regulations. More fundamentally, we may need to look at revising the regulations, especially in the context of an issue often raised in this House, namely the lack of sufficient special education spaces, particularly for children with ASD.

Sentiment score: 0.11

I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive response. The providers in question have indicated that they are exploring the possibility of securing education provider status. I understand they have started those discussions. I fully acknowledge the parameters of the regulations, as set out in the response from the Department of children. Like Deputy Lahart, what I am asking for is certainty. Paths forward have been identified. What is needed now is urgent engagement between Tusla, the Departments of children and education and the provider to ensure we do not have a situation where children who are particularly vulnerable, given the nature of their needs, have to be moved from an environment in which they are comfortable and where they know the people caring for them. In fairness, Nexus has made it very clear that where primary school places have become available at other sites across both constituencies, they have assisted with that transition. In this instance, they have been providing a safety net for these children to ensure they have care. I fully appreciate the remit of the regulations but it seems from the Minister of State's response that there could be a path forward. I ask that there be urgent engagement on the matter.

Sentiment score: 0.40