Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
176. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken to improve provision in the early years sector for children with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12772/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Access and Inclusion Model or AIM is a programme of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities or additional needs can access the Early Childhood Care and Education or 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 the ECCE programme.
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.
Since AIM was first launched in 2016, more than 40,900 children have received targeted AIM supports in over 4,900 settings nationally and many more children have benefited from its universal supports.
The AIM budget for 2026 is €86.05 million — 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.
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. Since September 2024, AIM has 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.
Officials in the Department are 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.
Consideration will be given at a future date to options and mechanisms for extending AIM to children in school-age childcare.
It is critical that these models will be strongly evidence-based and reflective of the needs of children. This requires tailoring of the Access and Inclusion Model and differentiation of approaches for each of these two separate age cohorts. Funding will be sought through the annual budget process on a phased basis for these further extensions of AIM.
An action plan is underway to address other Evaluation-identified improvements.
Two notable steps already achieved in this regard include:
• The publication of Introductory Guidelines for the inclusion of autistic children in early learning, school-age childcare, and childminding settings (in collaboration with AsIAm).
• The recent launch of the updated LINC Leadership for INClusion in the Early Years Inclusion Coordinator INCO programme, with a focus on autism and the development of supplementary CPD materials.
