Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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859. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the latest number of children participating in the various streams of support under the access inclusion model; and the number of staff deployed in delivering services. [40353/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Access and Inclusion Model encompasses 7 levels of support, which include universal supports (levels 1-3) and targeted supports (levels 4-7) , based on the needs of the child and the early learning and care (ELC) setting. Universal supports are designed to create a more inclusive culture in ELC settings, through training courses and qualifications for staff. Where universal supports are not enough to meet the needs of an individual child, targeted supports are available to ensure the child can meaningfully participate in ELC.

In 2023 there was an increase in demand in AIM supports post COVID-19, with 7,217 children being approved for targeted AIM supports combined.

The number of children participating in the various targeted streams of support under the Access and Inclusion Model for the 2022/23 programme call was as follows.

Number of children supported 2022/23

AIM Level 7 additional assistance in the early learning and care room involves additional capitation for service providers where an application process has demonstrated that supports at Level 1-6 have not, or will not, by themselves, meet the child’s needs. Funding can be used by the provider to buy in additional support, or reduce the staff / child ratio, supporting the pre-school leader to ensure the child’s optimal participation.

AIM Level 1 aims to embed an inclusive culture in services, includes the national inclusion policy and guidelines for ECCE, the funding of the Leadership for Inclusion (LINC) training programme, the establishment of Inclusion Co-Ordinator (INCO) roles in ECCE settings, and a small increase in capitation of €2 per registered ECCE child for services with qualified Inclusion Co-ordinators. The role of the Inclusion Co-ordinator is to provide leadership within the ELC setting in relation to issues of diversity, equality and inclusion.

Whilst not explicitly tracked, many more children are supported through the universal AIM components.The data hereunder describes the capitations paid to services under AIM level 7 and level 1. To note more than one child may be supported by an AIM Level 7 staff member and the same individual may work across different sessions and be counted under more than one capitation.