Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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1862.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the case of an individual (details supplied); if he will intervene to ensure the person can attend services with the necessary supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32618/24]

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 pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme and reap the benefits of quality early learning and care.

Following a review of AIM and commencing from this September AIM supports to ECCE-age children will be extended beyond time they spend in the ECCE programme – both in term and out.

This means that children with a disability registered on the ECCE programme will now be fully supported from September, to access and participate in early learning and childcare settings for up to 30 hours per week year round, both in term and out of term, including ECCE programme attendance of 15 hours per week during term time.

As noted above, it is a requirement that an ECCE aged child should be registered for ECCE in the first instance to avail of AIM supports.

However, officials in my Department have reviewed the circumstances of the case and have contacted Pobal, who are the administrators of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) to ensure a solution is found to support the child referred to in this case should the childs needs indicate such supports.

As with all responses to children's needs in AIMs, each child is considered in their own right based on the assessment of Better Start. It will ultimately be a decision for Better Start on the specific supports provided based on 7 AIM levels.

The request for AIM supports will be considered and the parents will be notified of the decision thereafter.