Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am aware of that case. As the Deputy noted, the AIM funding does not apply to those children, although it is a very beneficial and useful scheme. There is a gap in the provision at the moment, but we recognise it and the Minister of State and I, at the higher level, will be conscious of addressing it. When the Minister of State's disability brief moves to my Department, we will have the ability to examine the issue in a more joined-up manner. On the specific case, I will ask the Minister of State to engage and see what can be done on the health side.

To respond to Deputy Lahart, I take on board everything he said and thank him for his comments directed at me and the Minister of State. We have to recognise the nimbleness of childcare professionals and providers. The expert funding model will give us significant guidance as to how we can best use the increased State investment to get the best outcomes.

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