Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 June 2016
670. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of applications received by her Department for a second early childhood care and education scheme year starting in September 2016 from parents of children born before 1 January 2012. [14373/16]
View answerFrom 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.
Applications for access to the ECCE scheme are normally handled directly between the parent, the provider and Pobal, who administer the programme on behalf of my Department. My Department only becomes involved in certain circumstances.
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, under current rules, 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 the supporting medical report.
I understand that, as of 2 June 2016, my Department has received 156 applications for children to avail of a second free pre-school year in September 2016 and whose date of birth is before 1 Jan 2012. Of these, 123 were approved and 25 were not approved. Eight applications remain pending awaiting further documentation. Once documentation is received, these will be processed without delay.
