William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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879. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children with disabilities or additional needs which are participating in the Access and Inclusion Model across early learning and childcare settings in County Laois; the trends year-on-year; the further measures which are planned to increase inclusion in mainstream early years for children with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61518/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) was introduced in 2016 to ensure that children with a disability can access and participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. AIM provides both universal supports to preschool settings and targeted supports tailored to individual children’s needs, without requiring a formal diagnosis.

Reflecting the Government’s strong commitment to affordable, accessible and quality early learning and childcare, the AIM budget will reach €86.05 million in 2026 — an increase of 50% since 2024. This funding will support up to 9,000 children to access the ECCE programme in 2026 through targeted AIM supports, as well as a 10% increase in the capitation rate for AIM Level 7, which was introduced from October 2025.

The Programme for Government commits to ‘examine and expand the Access and Inclusion Model and make it available to younger children.’ Officials in the Department are currently considering the policy implications and appropriate mechanisms to extend AIM to children aged under three. The needs of this age cohort differ from those currently supported under AIM, and as such the approach to this extension must be carefully managed and underpinned by evidence. This will require a specifically tailored model of AIM, distinct from the current model.

It is intended that, over time, all children with additional needs registered in early learning and care and school-age childcare services will have access to supports under AIM.

The table below shows the number of services and children in Co. Laois being supported through AIM over the last 5 years. Figures for the programme year 2025/26 are up to the 31st of October 2025 and may be subject to further change.