Written answers

Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Preschool Services

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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374. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18633/18]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Pobal administers many aspects of the Access and Inclusion Model on behalf of the Department. Pobal has advised that no application has yet been made under AIM Level 5 on behalf of the child in question.

The pre-school service should apply for the specific piece of equipment by completing an AIM Level 5 application on the Programmes Implementation Platform (PIP) on the Pobal website. The application should be accompanied by a parental consent form and by a HSE AIM Level 5 template completed by a health professional. The health professional will need to confirm that the proposed equipment is necessary and critical to enable the child to participate in the ECCE programme.

The application process for AIM supports for children entering ECCE for the first time in September 2018 opens on 1st May. It is advisable that applications for AIM supports are made as early as possible to ensure that the relevant supports are in place when required.

AIM is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with a disability can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. The key objective of AIM is to support pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that children with a disability can fully participate in the ECCE programme, thereby reaping the benefits of quality pre-school education.

AIM is a child-centered 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. AIM Level 5 provides for access to specialised equipment, appliances, assistive technology and/or minor alterations capital grants for early years settings to ensure children with a disability can participate in the ECCE programme. A short report from a designated professional is required confirming that the specialised equipment or minor building alterations are necessary.

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