Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

81. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has plans to review and possibly expand the access and inclusion model, AIM, programme, given the vital role it plays in early learning and care, ELC, and school age childcare, SAC, settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36798/22]

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My question relates to the AIM programme. I ask the Minister to review and possibly expand the AIM programme, given the vital role it plays in the early years sector. Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. Since 2016, my Department has funded the access and inclusion model to ensure that children with disabilities can access the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme. Its goal is to empower preschool providers to deliver an inclusive preschool experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme and reap the benefits of high-quality early learning and care. AIM offers tailored and practical supports, some universal and others targeted, based on need and not requiring a formal diagnosis of disability. Close to 20,000 children with a disability have benefited from targeted supports under AIM since its introduction.

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, consider enhancements to or extensions of AIM, such as to all early learning and care services, to all school-age childcare services and to children with additional needs other than a disability.

The AIM evaluation commenced in 2021 and is now close to completion. The final report is due to be published in quarter 3 of this year. The findings of that evaluation will inform further development of AIM. This is a commitment in First 5.

In the meantime, I recently allocated additional funding to AIM to support children with disabilities to access the ECCE programme. Specifically, from September this year additional capitation provided through AIM to enable a lower adult-child ratio is expected to increase by 14% from September 2022, rising from €210 to €240 per week. This will benefit approximately 3,500 ECCE services throughout the country.

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. The recent increase is welcome. Is there any possibility or are there plans for AIM to be expanded outside of the ECCE programme for the younger cohort? This comes on the back of a visit I made to a family resource centre which I believe the Minister also visited in Limerick, namely, the King's Island facility. It has a high level of demand for the AIM programme. What often happens is parents can access AIM through the ECCE programme yet the child may be in full day care. This means that people do not then understand if it is said to one child that he or she cannot access the full day. It is not that it is stated that they cannot, but it is very difficult for them if they do not have that AIM support. There are not very many autism spectrum disorder, ASD, preschools throughout the country. When expanding AIM beyond just the ECCE programme, might it be possible to consider supporting those children?

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Nothing is off the table in regard to broadening AIM. I know how good a programme it is. I have spoken to parents who have experienced the value for their children. I have spoken to services which have seen they have been able to do much more for children. My starting point is to expand access to AIM. I like to do things after the research is completed in order that I can understand what the current situation is. I have acted on the many reports that we have done in childcare so far and I hope to be able to act on the AIM evaluation that will be coming in quarter 3 and to be able to expand it. It will probably be an incremental expansion. There are different approaches such as to focus on the zero-to-three group or on the school-age childcare or to give it to the existing group but outside the ECCE hours. Obviously there are financial considerations in all of that. It is such a good investment.

Like the Deputy, I was in King's Island and saw the amazing work the team does there. We are also working on the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, DEIS, type model as well as a broader support for socially disadvantaged young people. It is to be hoped that the possible merger or crossover of the two will provide more support for children who need it most.

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is welcome news on the review of AIM. It is a more recent programme and we have seen incredible benefits. There are many elements of it. Because the benefits for children are seen, there is high demand for it. It can be expanded certainly to the children in full day care. There are many sections to that but it is good. In regard to the research which the Minister hopes will be completed between September and December, is there consultation with the early learning group and the interdepartmental group as well? That is important because facilities such as the one in Limerick and others have so much knowledge on this that their input would be invaluable.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can get back to the Deputy with more detail on the process. It started in 2021 so it has been quite a lengthy and detailed process. I imagine it has engaged with providers that have undertaken this work. The real strength of AIM is its flexibility. The DEIS model used in primary and secondary school is "all or nothing" - you get DEIS status or you do not - whereas AIM has graduated levels of supports from one to seven recognising that a situation in different services and indeed different children may be different and should be tailored as such. Our approach to supporting disadvantaged children, and we are looking to advance this, will probably be like that. We will make it somewhat more tailored to the needs of a particular service, recognising that you can have a service in what is regarded as an affluent area but because of renting and different social circumstances of people, some children there may need additional supports.