Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
1096. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what stage the ECCE programme review is at; when he expects the review to be completed; if the recommendations of this review will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28506/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra1097. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the review of the ECCE scheme is considering increasing the number of entry points into the ECCE scheme from one to two, or one to three; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28509/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1096 and 1097 together.
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme is a free universal two-year pre-school 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. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and the programme year runs from September to June each year.
Any change to the design features of the ECCE programme such as the entry points to the scheme or age requirements require a thorough review of the evidence available and consultation with the children, parents and preschool providers affected by this proposed change. To this end, I have appointed Stranmillis University College, Belfast to undertake an independent review of the ECCE programme. The review will assess whether the ECCE Programme is meeting its core objectives and will identify any changes or improvements that can be made to the Programme, based on international evidence and experience to date. The ECCE Review is considering in detail the age requirements and number of entry points to the scheme.
The stakeholder consultation phase of the ECCE Review is currently underway, after this point will come the report writing phase. The final report is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. I will then consider the review fully and consider any policy changes that may need to be made to the programme. I would expect publication of the full report to follow.
