Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 May 2022
301. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of funding that was allocated in 2021 and 2022 to the Access and Inclusion Model; and the amount of the allocation that was spent in 2020 and 2021, in tabular form. [27062/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), is a programme of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) pre-school programme.
75% of expenditure is on Level 1 and Level 7 with the remaining expenditure on training, equipment, communications and advisory supports. Level 1 is provision of funding for training under the LINC training programme and employment of Inclusion Co-Ordinator (INCO) positions in ECCE sessions. Level 7 is funding for additional assistance in the preschool room to ensure a child’s participation in the ECCE programme. AIM provides financial support to the pre-school provider where needed, which can be used either to reduce the adult to child ratio in the pre-school room or to buy in additional assistance. Level 7 assistance is a shared resource for the preschool setting.
The allocations and drawdowns for the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) are set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Allocated |
Draw down |
|
2020 |
43,000,000 |
31,900,000 |
|
2021 |
48,330,500 |
31,250,781 |
|
2022 |
45,550,955 |
n/a |
The number of applications received for the 2020/21 programme call was significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic which resulted in 40% fewer applications during the 2020/21 call compared to the 2019/20 call. Another contributing factor were the large number of services opting to apply for the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) as an alternative to AIM funding. As a result there was an underspend in both 2020 and 2021.
