Robert Troy
Question:579. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a child (details supplied) cannot avail of a second free preschool year. [41841/19]
View answerTuesday, 15 October 2019
Questions (579)
Written answers
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal programme available to all children within the eligible age range. A child must have turned 2 years and 8 months on or before 31 August in the programme year, and not be older than 5 years and 6 months on or before 30 June of the second year, to be eligible for the programme.
Exemptions from the upper age limit may be granted where a child has special/additional needs. Applications for such exemptions must be submitted in writing to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and will only be considered under the following criteria:
- The application must include a letter of recommendation from a medical specialist (not a GP/Public Health Nurse) stating that it is in the best interest of the child to avail of a further year of pre-school;
- The child does not turn 6 during the 2019/2020 ECCE programme year; and
- The child has not availed of their full allocation of two years of ECCE provision.
My Department has not received any application for an overage exemption for the child named. Her parents may wish to apply now and I would draw their attention to the fact that the application must comply with the criteria outlined.
This Department does its best to ensure, in so far as possible, the equitable treatment of all children and families who apply for childcare funding under the ECCE Programme. In order to ensure objectivity and fairness, it is essential that clear rules exist for the scheme and that they are applied evenly.
Current policy requires that any request for an exemption from ECCE eligibility must be supported by a letter from a medical specialist/Social Worker (not a GP/Public Health Nurse) specifically recommending an exemption for the child. This requirement is not intended to undermine the view of a parent/teacher or other in relation to a child’s needs but, rather, to maintain a clear and standard basis for applying exemptions.
Examples of accepted specialist/medical recommendations are as follows:
Speech and Language Therapist; Occupational Therapist; Senior Psychologist; Physiotherapist; Paediatrician/developmental Neurologist; Psychiatrist; Psychotherapist; Cardiologist; Oncologist; Ophthalmologist; Otolaryngologist (ENT specialist); Gastroenterologist; Social Worker/Early Intervention Team.
This is not an exhaustive list however it provides an example of what is accepted.
Applications and letters of recommendation can be submitted via email to: eyqueries@dcya.gov.ie
Alternatively a hard copies can be posted to the following address:
Over Age Exemption Applications, Early Years Policies and Programmes,
Floor 2, Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Block 1, Miesian Plaza,
50-58 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2