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Early Childhood Care and Education

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2021

Wednesday, 15 December 2021

Questions (145)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

145. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the analysis his Department has carried out on introducing flexibility in the lower age limit for the ECCE scheme to accommodate children born near the deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62018/21]

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Written answers

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.

The entry age has since been decreased on two occasions, the first in 2016, when it was reduced 3 years and 2 months to 3 years of age and the number of hours a child could avail of was expanded. The second reduction was in 2018 whereby the number of points at which a child could become eligible for ECCE was reduced down to one (September) and the age of eligibility was further reduced to 2 years and 8 months. This change was based on national experience and a review of international practice. It also had regard to the regulatory environment for early years education and care in this country and issues such as child development readiness and adult-child ratios. This has now allowed children to avail of a full two years of ECCE.

I would note that my Department is about to commence a 12 month review of ECCE which will consider whether ECCE is meeting its objectives and subject to the findings consider whether any changes need to be made. As part of this review, there will be a wide stakeholder engagement.

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