Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2020
446. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the position in relation to an ECCE place for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31137/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraECCE provides two years of free pre-school. Children are eligible for ECCE if they are 2 years and 8 months old on or prior to 31 August of the year they start ECCE. In addition, a child cannot turn 5 years and 6 months of age during the course of the ECCE programme year, which runs from late August to the end of June. The reason for the age cap is to ensure that children progress to primary school with their peers, as this is in the best interests of the child.
In order for a child to be eligible to be enrolled for free pre-school in September 2020 they must have been born between 1st January 2016 and 31st December 2017.
In the case referred to by the Deputy, the child was born in December 2015 and therefore eligible to begin her first ECCE year in September 2018 and complete a second year from September 2019. The decision not to avail of the first year of ECCE was at the discretion of the parents, but two full years of ECCE were made available by my Department.
