Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2019
580. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the minimum and maximum ages for enrolment in the ECCE programme; if there is scope for discretion to be shown to individual children who are near the cut-off points and for whom an alternative starting date would be beneficial. [41887/19]
View answerSince September 2018, all children meeting the minimum age requirement of 2 years and 8 months are eligible for a full two programme years on the Early Childhood Care and Education programme (ECCE). This measure refines the development introduced the previous year and increases the duration of each registered child on ECCE from an average of 61 weeks, to a potential duration of 76 weeks (two programme years). This delivers fully on a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government that is good for children, families and Early Years providers.
This minimum age was chosen based on national experience and a review of international practice. It also had regard to the regulatory environment for early years care and education in this country and issues such as child development readiness and adult-child ratios.
The upper age limit for the ECCE programme remains the same (i.e. a child is not eligible if they will be 5 years and 6 months before the end of the programme year.) The upper age limit for the ECCE programme was set in consultation with the Department of Education and Skills. It ensures that children transition into primary school with their peers and limits the age range of children beginning primary school. Limiting the diversity in age ranges in children beginning primary school education is considered generally to be in the best interest of children, in relation to peer interaction in junior infants, as well as other educational considerations.
My 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. As stated above, the Department of Education and Skills informed the policy which these rules support.
It must be noted that age limits have been used to determine eligibility since the inception of the ECCE programme in 2010. These rules are a necessary component of any Government scheme and ensure that Exchequer funding is used for its intended purpose.
It a limited number of circumstances, it is possible to apply for an overage exemption to the ECCE programme. Overage Exemptions currently provided by my Department are governed by three guiding principles as follows:
- A Letter of Recommendation supplied from a specialist (NB: Not a GP/PHN),
- Child's age - not being over 6 years of age during the exemption year (as per Educational Welfare Act, 2000)
- ECCE Allocation taken - if a child has had the full 2 years they will not be eligible.
