Disability Services

Tuesday, 22 October 2024

Questions (627, 628, 629)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

627. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the annual budget of AIM; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42928/24]

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628. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in ECCE supported by AIM; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42929/24]

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Claire Kerrane

Question:

629. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the percentage of children in ECCE that AIM supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42930/24]

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Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 627 to 629, inclusive, together.

The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can fully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme and beyond, thereby reaping the benefits of quality early learning and care and realising the opportunity to reach their full potential. AIM provides a suite of universal and targeted supports across 7 levels.

AIM has supported more than 33,000 children with a disability to access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme since it was first introduced in September 2016.

The total allocated budget for AIM in 2024 is €57.497m and the total allocated budget for AIM for 2025 is €80,861. The increased budget for 2025 includes an additional €23.4 million to provide for an increasing cohort of children with a disability availing of AIM supports as well as the full year cost of the expansion of targeted supports beyond time spent in the ECCE programme, in term and out of term, which was introduced in Budget 2024.

For programme year 2023/2024 which concluded in June 2024, 8,152 children were approved for AIM targeted supports, representing 7.7% of the total ECCE population.

At present, there are 7,092 children approved for AIM targeted supports for the 2024/2025 programme year. AIM applications are received processed throughout the programme year.

The Department expects that the final number will exceed those supported in 2023/2024 as the numbers requiring support continues to grow year on year.

Question No. 628 answered with Question No. 627.

Question No. 629 answered with Question No. 627.