Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1241. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will advise on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43167/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMany children with disabilities, including autism, take part in mainstream early learning and care services. Participation of children with disabilities in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) universal pre-school programme in mainstream preschool settings is supported by the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM). The key objective of AIM is to support early learning and care providers to deliver an inclusive preschool experience, ensuring that children with a disability can fully participate in the ECCE Programme, thereby reaping the benefits of quality preschool education.
AIM has seven levels of support, moving from universal to targeted, based on the needs of the child and the early learning and care setting they are attending.
Eligibility for AIM supports is linked to participation in the universal ECCE pre-school programme. ECCE is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. A child must have reached 2 years and 8 months of age on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible for the September start date, and a child cannot turn 5 years and 6 months of age during the course of the ECCE programme year.
If parents are experiencing a difficulty in finding a place in an early learning and care or school-age childcare setting they can contact their local City /County Childcare Committee (contact details at myccc.ie/) who will try to assist them in finding a suitable place.
The parent may also wish to note that the Department of Education provide a Home Tuition Scheme which provides funding towards 10 hours' tuition per week 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. Subject to conditions, parents are free to use the grant to engage tutors to deliver tuition in their home or pre-school providers to deliver tuition in a group/pre-school setting. Such arrangements are between the parents and the relevant provider.
More information is available at: www.gov.ie/en/service/d15f58-home-tuition/#what-home-tuition-is.
