Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 March 2022
391. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will examine a matter raised in correspondence regarding the ECCE (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12613/22]
View answerThe ECCE programme is 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.
The number of entry points for ECCE reverted to one at the beginning of September 2018.
This measure addressed the previous situation with regard to three entry points whereby there was a broad fluctuation in the number of free preschool weeks a child could avail of and ensures a programme that is equitable for all children. One enrolment period at the start of the pre-school year also makes it easier for parents to secure places on the ECCE programme for their children.
In order to ensure objectivity and fairness, it is essential that clear rules exist for the ECCE programme and that they are applied evenly.
Parents may prefer for their children to start school at age 4 rather than 5 years and may therefore choose to avail of one year of ECCE only. This is the parent’s choice to make, ECCE is not a mandatory scheme and a parent may choose to send their child for one year only, or not at all.
I would note that my Department will commence a 12 month review of ECCE this year 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.
