Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 July 2017
243. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the uptake of the access and inclusion model in the 2016-17 school year; if an assessment has been undertaken on the scheme; if further funding will be provided for it in the forthcoming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31595/17]
View answerAIM is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. It was introduced in June 2016 and is administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can fully participate in the ECCE programme and reap the benefits of quality early years care and education. The funding allocation for AIM in 2017 is €32.42m.
AIM 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 pre-school setting.
Pobal, which administers AIM on behalf of my Department, has indicated that 2,617 children have been approved for support under AIM since its introduction. Of these children, 2,445 were in receipt of AIM supports in the 2016/ 2017 ECCE programme year, the remaining 172 children have been approved for AIM supports for the coming ECCE programme year commencing in September.
It is intended to carry out a review of AIM in late 2017 with a full formal evaluation planned for 2019.
