Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
867. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the options available to children not yet eligible for ECCE to access assistive technology in cases in which that they are deaf or hard of hearing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72510/25]
View answerThe Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a programme of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities or additional needs can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. The goal of AIM 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 in any mainstream service participating in ECCE.
A core feature and strength of AIM is that it does not require a diagnosis. Instead, resources are allocated based on a child’s individual needs.
AIM was specifically designed to support children with additional needs to access and meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme and as such, AIM is directly linked to ECCE participation and currently applies only to children who meet the ECCE age eligibility criteria.
The Programme for Government commits to ‘examine and expand the Access and Inclusion Model and make it available to younger children.’ This requires a tailored model which meets the different needs of pre-ECCE children, and funding through the annual budget process.
Officials in the Department will be engaging in a comprehensive policy development process during 2026 to extend AIM to children aged under three, which will be underpinned by consultations with key stakeholders. It is critical that the new model will be strongly evidence-based and reflective of the developmental stages of children not yet in ECCE.
It is intended to give consideration at a later date to an extension of AIM for children attending School Aged Childcare.
