Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 November 2012
559. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the rationale for introducing a minimum limit of eight children participating in the early childhood care and education scheme in order for a school to provide this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51121/12]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. Approximately 65,700 children are availing of the ECCE programme in the current school year and €175.8 million has been provided to cover the cost of the programme.
Since the introduction of the programme, services have been expected to have a minimum enrolment of at least 8 eligible children to participate in the programme. This number is considered the minimum appropriate number for the fostering of pro-social behaviour and cognitive development. It is important that the pre-school classroom should provide stimulating, motivating activities that promote student involvement, where individual choices are encouraged and where there is an opportunity for children to engage with a diverse range of friends.
However, to allow for the flexible implementation of the programme a number of exceptions to this minimum requirement may be considered. For example, a service which is an appropriate setting for the pre-school year and has an enrolment of at least 8 children of whom at least 3 qualify for the programme and the remainder will qualify in the following year, can apply for entry to the programme. Smaller services which have an enrolment of not fewer than 5 children in their pre-school year can also apply for entry. In addition, in order to ensure that no child is denied the opportunity of availing of the free pre-school year, certain rural services not meeting the minimum requirement may participate where parents in the area would have no other convenient option.
