Catherine Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
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2327. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will address the issue whereby recommendations from speech and language therapists who are registered with CORU, but operate privately and not directly under or on behalf of HSE services, are not accepted for accessing funding under AIM level 5; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41480/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a programme of supports designed to ensure that children with additional needs can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Its goal is to empower early learning and care 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.

AIM provides a suite of universal and targeted supports across seven levels. These include staff training, specialised equipment, therapeutic supports, minor building alterations, and funding for additional staff, where needed. Access to AIM is based on the needs of the individual child in the context of the pre-school setting and does not require a formal diagnosis.

AIM Level 5 supports, administered by Pobal with input from the HSE, require professional recommendations depending on the type of support being requested. The types of professionals eligible to complete assessments or reports are guided by a joint working protocol between the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality, the HSE, HSE-funded organisations, and Better Start.

This protocol outlines how these agencies collaborate in the delivery of certain AIM supports, including referral processes, responsibilities, and timeframes to support the full inclusion of children with disabilities in early learning and care settings. Only speech and language therapists working for or on behalf of the HSE are accepted for AIM level 5 applications under the protocol.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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2328. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if a second additional year of ECCE will be made available to a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41483/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides universal, free preschool to children in the eligible age range of 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months. The upper age limit of 5 years and 6 months for ECCE was set in consultation with the Department of Education and ensures that children transition into primary school with their peers.

In certain exceptional circumstances an exemption to the upper age limit in ECCE may be given to enable children with additional needs to remain in ECCE past the upper age limit.

An exemption to this upper age limit was granted to the child referred to, for the 2024/2025 programme year. There is no provision for granting a second overage exemption for school aged children, my Department needs to be consistent in its application of the ECCE programme rules.

It is generally considered in the best interest of children to transition to primary education alongside their age cohort. It is also important to note that the provision of an exemption to the upper age limit by my Department was never intended as a mechanism to delay a child’s entry to primary education or to address any issue of non-availability of a school place.

Further to the details supplied, if the parent decides to pay for ELC privately, the child will not be registered in ECCE and will not be eligible for AIM supports associated with the ECCE programme. It should also be noted Tusla regulations have strict age limits for Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare registration. The child’s service would need to be appropriately registered for their age group.

While I understand the parents frustration in securing a school place, this is a matter for the Department of Education and I would strongly urge the parent to again contact that Department as soon as possible.