Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
476. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration will be given to the circumstances regarding ECCE in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5288/21]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. A child must have reached 2 years and 8 months of age on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible for the September start date and a child cannot turn 5 years and 6 months of age during the course of the ECCE programme year.
In certain circumstances, an overage exemption to the upper age limit is granted to children with additional needs subject to an application to my Department.
Overage exemptions for the ECCE programme provided by my Department are governed by three guiding principles:
- A specialist has recommended the additional time in the ECCE Programme
- The child not reaching 6 years of age before beginning primary education as per the Educational Welfare Act, 2000.
- If a child has already availed of the full two years of the ECCE Programme, they will not be eligible for a further year.
Where an application does not fulfil the above criteria the application is declined.
An application submitted to my Department for an overage exemption on behalf of the child named did not include a recommendation from a specialist as required and this was communicated to the parents. If the parents have a recommendation from a specialist, it is open to them to re-apply if they so wish.
