Under level 5, a national scheme is available to provide specialised equipment, appliances or capital grants towards minor building alterations, where these are necessary to support access and to facilitate a child’s participation in pre-school. Applications for this scheme should be made by a pre-school provider, in partnership with a parent. In all cases, a short report from a “designated professional” is required confirming that the specialised equipment or minor building alterations are necessary. In the case of applications for minor alterations, quotes will also be required in line with Pobal procurement guidance.

Once an application for equipment is approved, this will be sourced by Pobal and delivered directly to the child’s pre-school setting. Training in the use of the equipment will also be provided. Where an application for minor building alterations is approved, a capital grant towards the cost of these alterations will be made available to the pre-school provider.

Further information on application requirements, on the different categories of “designated professional” who can complete reports and on the lists of minor alterations and equipment which may be funded under the scheme can be found in the AIM policy document and in the Pobal application and guidance documents, all of which can be accessed on the following link – Key Documents and Resources.

To avail of level 6 support, pre-school providers, in partnership with parents, should complete the online Access and Inclusion Profile. The Early Years Specialist Service will review the profile and, where therapeutic input is likely to be required, they will initiate contact with the HSE. It should be noted that this support is limited to therapeutic interventions which are critical to a child’s participation in the ECCE programme.

Where the above supports are not sufficient to meet the needs of the child, pre-school providers, in partnership with parents, can apply for additional capitation to fund extra support in the classroom or to enable the reduction of the staff to child ratio.

Applications for level 7 additional capitation should be made by the pre-school provider, in partnership with the parent, by completing the Access and Inclusion Profile and, within that profile, the level 7 service request. Following this, an Early Years Specialist will be in contact with the pre-school provider to progress the application. Two different rates of level 7 capitation are payable as follows:

• A rate of €130 per week where needs are identified as complex, such that a setting would need to supplement their staffing by approximately 10 additional staff hours per week.
• A rate of €195 per week where needs are identified as highly complex, such that a setting would need to supplement their staffing by approximately 15 hours per week.

Where an application for a level 7 support is approved, Pobal will notify the pre-school provider and the parent of the approval and of the basis on which the capitation is being approved, i.e. the type of support which should be provided on foot of the additional capitation, supervision arrangements etc, taking into account any views expressed by the parent and the pre-school provider. A level 7 capitation can also be approved on a pro rata basis where there is a clear justification for doing so (eg. the child cannot attend the service on a full-time basis or other supports are available on a part-time basis).