Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Much of what I have to say is complementary to what Deputy Costello said but comes at it from a slightly different angle. The main issue I have to raise is access and inclusion model, AIM, staff for children with ASD in early years education at the very start of their national school education. For a Montessori school to take on a child with ASD, it requires AIM staff who have further qualifications than most childcare workers to work one-on-one with the child. It is obviously crucial for children with ASD to attend Montessori preschool and early stages of mainstream education, socialise and get used to a school and communal environment as it is important for their families, parents and guardians. However, many childcare providers and national schools are forced to turn away children with autism as they simply do not have the staff to care for them. One of the big reasons for this is the remuneration for AIM staff is simply not high enough. They are paid €14 an hour which is about €10.85 after tax which is not enough to attract sufficient talent to early years Montessori and senior and junior infant schools across Dublin. As a result providers are forced to turn away children with autism leaving them and their families stuck and out of options as they cannot use their existing staff to work with children. It is unfair for so many reasons. Children with autism have every bit as much right to childcare and an education as any other child, particular in early years and in their first years in primary education. These barriers to entry for children with autism will only disadvantage them as they progress through the national school system. In my area of Dublin Rathdown a family with two young children with autism have been rejected from six childcare providers due to a lack of staff. As they prepare to enter junior infants next September they are unable to establish what national school will be able to accept them.

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