Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

523. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she plans to reduce the qualifying age for the AIM programme run by her Department from two years and nine months to the age of two, given the importance of early intervention for children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53308/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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. As such, AIM is directly linked to ECCE participation and currently applies to children who meet the ECCE age eligibility criteria (i.e. 2 years and 8 months to 5 years 6 months).

In line with a commitment in First 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028, an independent evaluation of AIM was undertaken in order to inform an extension of AIM beyond the ECCE programme as well as any potential enhancements to the model.

The findings from the evaluation were published in January 2024 and have informed the phased extension of AIM. From September 2024, AIM was expanded beyond time spent in the ECCE programme for ECCE-aged children. This allows children to access early learning and childcare for up to an additional 3 hours in term and 6 hours out of term.

It is intended that over time, all children with additional needs registered in early learning and care services will have access to supports under AIM. The nature of the supports required for children under the age of 2 years and 8 months will differ from those needed for the ECCE-aged cohort. To address this, officials in the Department are currently designing a tailored model to facilitate the extension of AIM supports to children under the age of three.