Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 April 2016
88. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs why a person (details supplied) is not entitled to an additional free year of preschool under the early childhood care and education scheme; and if he will exercise discretion or allow an exemption for persons whose birthday falls close to the cut-off point for the additional year under the expanded scheme. [8669/16]
View answerIn Budget 2016 it was announced that, from September 2016, children will be eligible to start free pre-school when they reach the age of 3, and can continue in free pre-school until they start primary school (once the child is not older than 5½ years at the end of the pre-school year i.e. end June). The age range for eligibility for children enrolling for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme in September 2016 is 1 January 2012 to the 31 August 2013.
It is my understanding that the child in question will be eligible to apply for an ECCE place this coming September and can avail of 38 weeks of free pre-schooling under the ECCE programme up to the end of June 2017.
The eligibility criteria for national schemes must be strictly adhered to. Exceptions to these criteria can only currently be made in the event that a child has been diagnosed as having a special-additional need. Any request for an exemption from ECCE eligibility criteria must be supported by a medical assessment report from the HSE-medical specialist, specifying the child's special need and diagnosis. In such a case, an application should be made to the Early Years Policies and Programmes Unit of my Department, attaching a supporting medical report.
