An Audit of Provision of Services Targeting Disadvantage and Special Needs
Among Children from birth to six years in Ireland
Researched and Written by Maresa Duignan and Jacqueline Fallon
The work of the Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education (CECDE) is particularly concerned with the
needs of young children who experience educational disadvantage and/or have special needs. Given this, an audit
of services targeting disadvantage and special needs among children from birth to six years was conducted.
Heino Schonfeld, Director of the CECDE, said: "This unique and questioning report presents a timely overview of
services in Ireland which target the needs of young children with disabilities and of those who experience
disadvantage. It will assist the efforts to develop more effective supports for these children to ensure their full
participation in the opportunities our education system has to offer."
While data on provision is not available in a planned or systematic way, the CECDE has assembled a database of
approximately 1,400 services, illustrated via maps. The findings are used to generate recommendations for policy
in early childhood care and education in Ireland.
On Target? may be downloaded in sections below:
Download here: Foreword
Executive Summary
1. Introduction
2. Rationale
3. Profile of Current Targeted Provision of Early Childhood Care and Education
Centre for Early Childhood Development & Education
Gate Lodge, St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9. Tel: 00353 (0)1 8842110 Fax: 00353 (0)1 8842111
Email: early.childhood@spd.dcu.ie
