Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1217. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a Ukrainian child born on 21 December 2017 would be eligible for free preschool; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42435/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 and a child cannot turn 5 years and 6 months of age during the course of the ECCE programme year.
The upper age limit of 5 years and 6 months for the ECCE programme was set in consultation with the Department of Education and is consistent with regard to school start age and the associated policy of the Department of Education.
Children born in December 2017 were eligible to enroll on the ECCE programme in 2020 and 2021 and no longer meet the age criteria.
