Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 March 2022
41. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with the Minister for Health and the Minister for Education to improve the level of support offered to children with disabilities. [15333/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides services to children with disabilities through the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM). AIM is a programme of supports designed to enable children with a disability to access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. The goal of AIM is to create a more inclusive environment in pre-schools, so all children, regardless of ability, can benefit from quality early learning and care. The model achieves this by providing universal supports to pre-school settings, and targeted supports, which focus on the needs of the individual child, without requiring a diagnosis of disability.
In addition to the specific services my Department delivers for children with disabilities, my Department co-ordinates the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) which is whole-of-government strategy for policy and action to address the needs of persons with disabilities in Ireland and support effective progress in delivering on the obligations set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which Ireland ratified in 2018. This process allows for robust and ongoing consultation and cooperation between Departments.
I chair the NDIS Steering Group and one of the focuses of that Strategy, alongside the Comprehensive Employment Strategy (CES), is improving transitions across state services, including for children. In that regard, both the NDIS and CES involve extensive input from officials in the Departments of Health and Education. Minister of State Anne Rabbitte T.D. also engages regularly with relevant Ministers to highlight the needs of children with disabilities.
In November 2021, Ireland submitted its first State Report to the UN Committee on CRPD. As part of preparations for this and other UN processes such as the UNCRC and the Universal Periodic Review, a specific consultation was held with children with disabilities, to ensure their voice was heard.
