Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2022
577. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason for the decision to change the provision of the early childhood care and education scheme to children from over two years and eight months on either 1 September or 1 January 2021 to just one date for entry, the first of September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22835/22]
View answerThere was no change to ECCE eligibility or entry points in 2021. The last such change was in 2018.
Prior to September 2018 there were three entry points per year to ECCE (September, January and April) and children had to be at least 3 years old to enter the scheme. This lead to a situation where there was variation in the number of ECCE weeks a child could qualify for, ranging from between 61 and 88 weeks depending on the date of birth of the child.
The introduction of a single entry point aligned to the start of the primary school year ensured that all children could receive 2 full years of ECCE, or 76 weeks. This also ensures that all children can experience the full pre-school curriculum. In making this change, the minimum age was also reduced to 2 years 8 months
A single entry point has also streamlined the administration process for providers, making it easier for them to operate and budget for the programme year. In addition it has made it easier parents to secure places on the ECCE programme for their children.
The minimum eligibility age of 2 years and 8 months for the ECCE programme was chosen 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.
