Early Childhood Care and Education

Tuesday, 26 July 2022

Questions (1366)

John Brady

Question:

1366. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in County Wicklow who are currently eligible for the early childhood care and education scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40675/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The 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.

For the 2021/22 programme year, there were 3,478 children registered on the ECCE programme in County Wicklow. Based on average uptake rates for the ECCE programme, this represents approximately 96% of the eligible cohort of children in County Wicklow for that programme year.