Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
1170. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department plans to extend the access-and-inclusion model support beyond the three hours for children with additional needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29144/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order for a child to access AIM supports, he or she must be within the eligible age range for the ECCE programme and be registered on the programme in a registered pre-school service. The ECCE programme is provided for 3 hours per day, 5 days per week over a 38 week programme year which runs between September and June. Operational weeks of the ECCE programme year are closely aligned with the primary school year. AIM operates in tandem with the ECCE programme and provision of AIM supports are directly linked with participation in the programme and hours of operation.
One of the commitments in First 5, the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, was to undertake an evaluation of AIM and subject to evaluation findings and other relevant developments, to consider enhancements to, and/or extension of, AIM to, for example, all early learning and care services, all school-age childcare services and to children with additional needs other than a disability.
The AIM evaluation is close to completion and the report is due to be published in quarter 3 of this year. The findings from the evaluation will inform further development of AIM, as committed to in First 5.
