The ECCE Programme was established in 2010 to provide children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school.
When first introduced, the ECCE Programme was delivered over 38 weeks in a given ECCE Programme Year and children were required to be between the ages of 3 years and 2 months and 4 years and 7 months in September in the year they enrolled.
In accordance with recommendations in the Report of the Inter-Departmental Group on Future Investment and the Report of the Expert Advisory Group on the Early Years Strategy, Right from the Start, this Programme was extended in September 2016. Under this expanded Programme children were eligible to enrol in the Programme at age three, and remain in Programme until they transitioned primary school (or reached 5 years 6 months). Under this extension, three enrolment points were introduced – September, January and April.
The ECCE Programme was extended again in September 2018. Since then, children qualify for two years of pre-school under this Programme and can enrol when they are 2 years and 8 months of age in September in the year they enrol and continue until they transfer to primary school (or reach 5 years 6 months).The changes to the ECCE Programme in 2018 fulfilled a committed in the Programme for a Partnership Government.
The return one enrolment point in 2018 ensured all children have equitable access to the ECCE Programme.
With three enrolment points, the number of ECCE weeks a child availed of averaged at 61 weeks but this ranged from 38 weeks and 88 weeks depending on the child’s date of birth of and school starting age. The single enrolment point ensured all children could avail of 76 ECCE weeks. Moreover, the return to one enrolment point helped to streamline the administration process to make it easier for pre-school providers to operate and budget for the programme year.
Funding for the ECCE Programme was increased by €26m in Budget 2018. This funding was for this extension of the ECCE programme and a 7% increase in ECCE capitation. Bot changes were introduced from September 2018, therefore funding allocated under Budget 2018 does not reflect full year costs of these measures.
With regard to the impact of this change to the ECCE Programme on low-income families who have to pay for their child to attend pre-school if they are outside the eligible age ranges.
It is open for these families to apply for supports under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS).
The NCS, introduced in November 2019, represents the first ever statutory entitlement to financial support for early learning and childcare.
It marks a shift away from previous schemes, which were based on medical card and social protection entitlements to a more progressive system of universal and income-based subsidies.
Under the NCS, significantly more families are eligible for support.
NCS makes early learning and childcare more affordable, and in some instances free, to these families - with those on lowest incomes receiving the greatest level of support.
NCS is designed to ensure that access provided is at a level necessary to support positive child development outcomes regardless of whether parents are in work or study.
Where parents are not engaged in work or study, the NCS subsidises up to 20 hours per week (standard hours).
Where parents are engaged in work or study, the NCS subsidises up to 45 hours of per week (enhanced hours).
Depending on the age of the child, low income families with pre-school children will be eligible for up €102 per week in NCS subsidies where parents are not engaged in work or study and €229.50 per week in NCS subsidies where parents are engaged in work or study (as outlined in the table provided).
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Child’s Age
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Maximum Subsidy Per Hour
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Maximum Standard Hours Subsidy
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Maximum Enhanced Hours Subsidy
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Less than 12 months old
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€5.10
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€102.00
|
€229.50
|
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12 to 35 months old
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€4.35
|
€87.00
|
€195.75
|
|
3 years old or older and not yet qualifying for ECCE
|
€3.95
|
€79.00
|
€177.75
|
