Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2018
551. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when a person (details supplied) attending a preschool under the Early Childhood Care and Education scheme will have a special needs assistant appointed for them through the better start access and inclusion model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3043/18]
View answerThe Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) supports children with a disability to access and fully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. It was introduced in June 2016 and is administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department. AIM includes 7 levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted. The degree of support provided depends on the needs and strengths of the child in the context of the pre-school setting they are attending.
A pre-school provider, in partnership with a parent, can apply for AIM Level 7 support - additional capitation. Where the AIM Early Years Specialist (EYS) (a support provided under AIM Level 4) considers that an AIM Level 7 support is critical to a child's participation in the ECCE programme, they will further consider the degree of Level 7 support required having regard to the needs of the child and the pre-school setting.
There are two rates of Level 7 capitation. The lower rate is €130 per week (which is calculated on the basis of 10 hours of support per week) and the higher rate is €195 per week (which is calculated on the basis of 15 hours of support per week).
This additional capitation can be used to reduce the adult to child ratio in the pre-school room or can be used to buy in additional assistance.
In relation to this particular child, Pobal has advised that an application for support under AIM Level 7 was received on 16th January 2018. An EYS has been assigned and will be in contact with the pre-school provider by telephone shortly to arrange for an observation visit to take place. Following this, the EYS will submit a recommendation to the Pobal AIM Level 7 appraisal team who will review this information and make a decision. The outcome of the application will then be communicated to the applicants. Pobal has advised that they would expect a turnaround of between 4 and 6 weeks from receipt of the application to communication of the decision to this child's parents and pre-school provider.
