News

20 March 2023

Application Opening Dates for AIM Levels 4, 5, 7 and 1 for 2023/24 Programme Year

Applications for AIM Levels 4, 5 and 7 for the 2023/24 programme year open on the Early Years Hive platform on 2nd May 2023. Whilst the AIM application process remains open year round, providers and parents are advised, where possible, to apply at least three months before the child’s planned start date in ECCE in…

13 March 2023

Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) under the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019 with Mary Immaculate

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) has entered into a Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) under the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019 with Mary Immaculate College for the sharing of LINC Data in Early Years care. The published DSA can be found here.…

6 March 2023

Applications for the Leadership for Inclusion in the Early Years (LINC) Programme open on Monday 13th March 2023

The LINC Programme is a Level 6 Special Purpose Award (Higher Education), which is fully funded by the Department of Children Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). The programme is designed to enhance and support children’s inclusion in the Early Years. The LINC programme is offered by a consortium led by Mary Immaculate College and…

15 December 2022

Minister Rabbitte convenes first meeting of the Autism Innovation Strategy Oversight and Advisory Group

Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte TD, today convened the first meeting of the Autism Innovation Strategy Oversight and Advisory Group. The group was recently appointed following an open call for expressions of interest which took place in June 2022. The group is majority Neurodiverse and will ensure that the voice of…

14 September 2022

Applications for AIM Level 1 Higher Capitation Now Open for 2022/2023

The application process for increased Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) capitation, funded by Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), in recognition of the leadership and mentoring role that will be delivered by the Inclusion Co-ordinator, during the 2022/2023 pre-school year is now open for existing graduates. New graduates (i.e. graduating in October…

30 August 2022

AIM rules for 2022/2023 Programme Year Published

The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) Rules for the 2022/2023 ECCE programme year are now available here. The AIM Rules are a useful resource for both parents and for the early learning and care sector. As indicated in the ECCE contract, pre-school services that avail of AIM are obliged to comply with the AIM Rules.…

29 August 2022

Minister O’Gorman allocates additional funding to support children with disabilities access State-funded pre-school

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth announced an increase in funding to support children with disabilities to access State-funded pre-school. Additional capitation, provided through the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) to enable a lower adult-child ratio, will increase by 14% from September 2022, rising from €210 per week to €240 per week.…

23 August 2022

DSA Public Consultation Notice

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is intending to enter into a Data Sharing Agreement under the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019. The proposed agreement, A Data Sharing Agreement between DCEDIY and Mary Immaculate College, will be available for public consultation athttps://www.gov.ie/consultations/DSA/ for a period of 28 days, from 22-08-2022…

5 August 2021

Applications for AIM Level 1 Higher Capitation Now Open!

The application process for higher Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) capitation, funded by Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), in recognition of the leadership and mentoring role that will be delivered by the Inclusion Co-ordinator, during the 2021/2022 pre-school year is now open for existing graduates. New graduates (i.e. graduating in…

30 July 2021

AIM Rules for 2021/2022 Programme Year Published

The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) Rules for the 2021/2022 ECCE programme year are now available here: AIM Rules 2021/2022 The AIM Rules are a useful resource for both parents and for the early learning and care sector. If you are a pre-school provider we encourage you to familiarise yourself with the rules and also…

19 April 2021

Leadership for Inclusion in Early Years (LINC) Programme opens for applications from 14/3/2022

The Leadership for Inclusion in the Early Years (LINC) programme is set to open for applications next week (19/04/2021). LINC is a free higher education Level 6 programme designed to enhance and support the inclusion of children with additional needs in Early Learning and Care (ELC) settings and graduates of the programme can take up a leadership role of Inclusion Coordinator within their ELC setting.…

23 March 2021

Part 2 and Part 3 of the SPEL Q and A Webinar Now Available!

Following on from part 1 of the SPEL webinar we are happy to share parts 2 and 3 which feature Fiona O’Farrell, the subject matter expert who designed the SPEL course. These webinars will prove useful and informative to you if you are a previous participant in the SPEL programme or you would like to…

11 January 2021

Covid19 – Updated Information for Parents, Early Learning and Childcare and School Age Childcare services

The Department has published updated guidance documents and FAQ’s for parents, Early Learning and Childcare and School Age Childcare Services regarding current Covid19 restrictions.…

15 December 2020

Minister O’Gorman Announces Additional Investment for AIM Level 7 Funding

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, T.D., today announced that additional funding for the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) secured in Budget 2021 will be made available from January. AIM payments, which enable ECCE (free pre-school) providers to support inclusion of children by reducing the adult-child ratio within the pre-school room,…

19 November 2020

AIM and Employee Wage Subsidy Scheme FAQ Published

Please see FAQ regarding the Employee Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) and AIM level 7 funding here: EWSS and AIM FAQs.…

19 August 2020

The SPEL Q and A Webinar is Now Available!

A while ago we asked past and current participants in the SPEL (Sensory Processing E-Learning) course if they had any questions about the course. Today, we are happy to share this webinar featuring Fiona O’Farrell, the subject matter expert who designed the SPEL course. This webinar will prove useful and informative to you if you…

5 May 2020

Resources for Parents

We are pleased to announce that have added some more resources to our site! There is a range of activities for parents caring for children during the lockdown, these include; storytime with your child, play at home and sensory training to name a few.…

26 February 2020

AIM programme wins global award for innovative policy

We are pleased to announce that AIM has won a global award for innovative policy at this year’s Zero Project Awards, in recognition of the programme’s significant contribution to the inclusion of children with disabilities. The Zero Project focuses on the rights of persons with disabilities globally. AIM was one of 11 innovative policies selected…