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Early Childhood Care and Education

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020

Tuesday, 28 July 2020

Ceisteanna (745)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

745. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated fall in the number of ECCE places for September 2020; the indicative number of children who will commence and continue in ECCE in September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19125/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal programme available to all children within the eligible age range. It provides children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school.

Children are eligible to enrol in this Programme once they are 2 years and 8 months of age in the September of a given programme year and are eligible to avail of two years of the programme (provided that they are not older than 5 years and 6 months at the end of the programme year year). Ordinarily, the proportion of children availing on this full entitlement is determined by a range of factors, including the child’s month of birth, parental choice with regard to school starting age and average uptake rates since the Programme was introduced.

Based on birth data from the CSO, data on school starting age from the Department of Education and Skills and assuming normal uptake rates of 95%, it is estimated that approximately 106,000 children will enrol in the ECCE Programme 2020/2021 this September.

Owing to COVID-19, it is expected that the numbers of children enrolling in the Programme will be lower - at least initially. While it is difficult to predict with certainty, it is anticipated that enrolment in the ECCE Programme may reach an average of 85%-90% of the eligible cohort - or between 95,000 and 101,000 children.

The registration process for the ECCE Programme 2020/21 opens on 17 August, one week before the programme is due to commence. Therefore, more accurate estimates of ECCE Programme among wth eligible age cohort will be available from end August - early September.

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