Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 November 2023
448. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the €7 million announced in Budget 2024 to support the increasing number of children with a disability requiring AIM supports to access and participate in the ECCE programme; how this money will be allocated to ECCE providers; when the money will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51117/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe award winning Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) has supported more than 27,000 children with a disability to access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme since it was first introduced in September 2016.
In Budget 2024, I was very pleased to secure an additional €14m for AIM. €7m of this allocation will support the increasing cohort of children with a disability requiring AIM supports to access and meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme. This will be on the basis of an application and assessment and will be demand led as is currently the case. The increase is required to meet the increasing demand for the AIM programme.
An additional €7m provides for an expansion of targeted AIM supports to these children beyond time spent in the ECCE programme, in term and out of term from next September.
The specific rules underpinning this extension are currently being developed. However, the intent of the additional funding is to support ECCE-enrolled children with a disability to remain in services for the full day if they wish to do so.
The precise allocation model for this expansion of AIM is currently under design and will be communicated in early 2024.
It is my ambition that, over time, all children with a disability who enrol in registered early learning and childcare services will have access to supports under AIM. To this end, my officials will next consider how many more children with a disability can benefit from AIM supports and will allocate supports based on application and assessment on a case by case basis.
