Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

492. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the grants available for disability ramps for a child-care facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38651/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In June 2016, I introduced the new Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), which enables children with disabilities to access and fully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme.

The model delivers seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, to enable the full inclusion and meaningful participation of children with disabilities in the ECCE Programme. The degree of support provided will depend on the needs of the child in the context of the pre-school service delivering the ECCE programme.

Level 5 of the model provides for specialised equipment, appliances and grants for minor building alterations (to include disability ramps) which are necessary to support a child’s participation in the ECCE programme. The maximum grant available under this stream for minor building alterations is €7,000.

An application to Pobal, who are the administrators of the scheme, can be made by the pre-school service provider in conjunction with the parent for a minor building alterations grant.

Further information is available in the AIM Policy on the dedicated website, www.aim.gov.ie.