Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
1025. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the age criteria for qualifying for the early childhood care education programme; if exceptions can be made for children who are younger by less than a month; if there are any plans to review the qualifying criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27276/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two year preschool programme available to all children within the eligible age range of 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months. 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.
The ECCE age requirements have been set to ensure the child is developmentally ready to engage with preschool and the preschool curricular framework. The entry point is designed so that all children within a given 12-month cycle can enter at the same point within that 12 month period and progress as one group. Ensuring children progress and transition with their peers to primary school is considered optimal for child development. While all children are eligible for two years of ECCE, the programme is not mandatory and some parents choose to avail of one year only.
My Department does its best to ensure, in so far as possible, the equitable treatment of all eligible children and families who apply for childcare funding under the ECCE Programme. In order to ensure objectivity and fairness, it is essential that clear rules exist for the scheme and that they are applied evenly. I accept that the use of age limits in a scheme such as ECCE creates a situation whereby a child can fall just outside the age range, however in the interests of fairness and consistency there can be no discretion in this regard.
Finally, I would add that my Department has commissioned a review of the ECCE programme which is currently being undertaken by Stranmillis University, Belfast. The ECCE age requirements are being evaluated as part of this review, the ultimate decision as to whether the age requirements should change will be informed by consultation with parents, international experts and ELC professionals.
