Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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466. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when funding will be made available to a childcare service (details supplied); and if this funding will be backdated to when the service initially received this recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48010/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Applications for AIM Level 7 supports are submitted to Pobal through the Early Years Hive online platform.

Where an application is complete and eligible, it will be referred to the Better Start Early Years Specialist Service who may visit the service provider and child, or conduct a Service Observation Review (SOR) to identify whether AIM Level 7 support is critical to the child’s meaningful participation in the ECCE programme in that pre-school service.

A Better Start Early Years Specialist will then make a written, evidence informed recommendation, which is sent to an Appraisal Officer in Pobal for review. It is on this basis that a decision will be made.

Whilst we can to speak to particulars of this case, any such appraisal is processed as efficiently as possible after the observation has occurred to determine need.

AIM level 7 funding is awarded to ensure a child’s meaningful participation in AIM. As such, funding can only be given where the room assistant is employed and in place to support the child’s participation. As per the AIM Rules 2022/2023, backdating of Level 7 payments is not permitted.