Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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244. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount spent on storage of previously used early years equipment that has been transferred back to Pobal once a child has moved to primary level, by county, in tabular form. [30013/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) was introduced in 2016 to ensure that children with additional needs or a disability could access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Its goal is to empower preschool providers to deliver an inclusive preschool experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme and reap the benefits of quality early learning and care.

AIM Level 5 recognises that some children require specialised equipment, appliances, assistive technology and/or that some early learning and care settings may require minor structural alterations to ensure children with a disability can participate in the ECCE programme. Supports include grants for equipment and some minor capital building works

Administration of AIM, including all payments, are carried out by Pobal acting as an agent of my Department.

Pobal have advised that details of AIM Level 5 storage charges, cannot be provided by county.

Please see figures in the table below for storage costs of AIM Level 5 equipment by year. To note, figures are only available from 2021.

AIM Level 5 Equipment related storage payments by year: