Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 May 2022
205. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the options that are available to ensure that a child (details suppled) receives their ECCE year. [23581/22]
View answerI am very concerned to hear that this family has been unable to secure an ECCE place for their child.
First and foremost, I would strongly advise that the family contact the local CCC who can work with the family to try to identify a provider who will provide ECCE for the child mentioned in your correspondence. Information for the relevant CCC is available at: www.myccc.ie
You mention the “Aims support worker”. The goal of AIM is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme and reap the benefits of quality early learning and care in any mainstream pre-school. AIM is based on the needs of the child in the context of the pre-school setting and a diagnosis of disability is not a requirement of eligibility.
AIM level 7 provides financial support to a pre-school provider where needed, which can be used to either reduce the adult to child ratio or to buy in additional assistance for the pre-school room. Level 7 assistance is not a SNA model of support, and any additional members of staff funded by AIM are a shared resource for the pre-school setting. More information on AIM is available at: aim.gov.ie/
Early Intervention classes attached to primary schools for autistic children aged 3 and over are provided by the Department of Education and the family is advised to contact that Department in this regard if they wish to pursue this avenue.
I would also note that the Department of Education provide a Home Tuition Scheme which provides funding towards 10 hours tuition for children under 3 years of age and 20 hours per week for children over 3 years of age who cannot secure a placement in an early intervention class.
Further information is available at www.gov.ie/en/circular/a52be-home-tuition-grant-scheme-20202021-special-education-component/
