Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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245. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children with a disability that have been granted support through the access and inclusion model for access to early childhood care and education programmes since its introduction in 2016; the number that have been granted support in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31630/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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AIM is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. It was introduced in June 2016 and is administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can fully participate in the ECCE programme and reap the benefits of quality early years care and education. AIM is a child-centred model, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, based on the needs of the child and the pre-school setting.

Pobal, which administers AIM on behalf of my Department, has indicated that 2,617 children were approved for support under AIM since its introduction in 2016. Of this number, 57 were approved for support in Cavan and 34 were approved for support in Monaghan.