Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2024
463. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline any regulations in regard to ECCE supports that would prevent providers from refusing to offer half-day sessions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3832/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra464. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline any regulations in regard to ECCE supports that would ensure that parents who received an ECCE place for half-day sessions cannot, at a later date, be told that the provider will no longer offer half-day sessions in favour of full-time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3833/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 463 and 464 together.
Childcare services are provided by private enterprises, either privately owned or operated by community organisations. The majority of services are contracted with my Department to provide schemes which subsidise the cost of the service to eligible parents, or in the case of the universal pre-school programme, ECCE, to provide these 15 hours per week at no cost to the parent. Providers are free to set their own policies, in line with their Tusla registration status, regarding their service offering.
ECCE is an administrative scheme not underpinned by legislation or regulation and is governed by the ECCE programme rules. ECCE providers that contract with my Department to provide ECCE must adhere to these rules and comply with all legal and regulatory requirements.
An approved ECCE provider must offer free ECCE only sessions. Parents/children availing of such sessions will not be required to attend or pay for any additional service offers. The provider shall ensure that parents/guardians are informed that their agreement to additional hours or to any optional charge is not compulsory and that agreement is not a condition of initial or continued enrolment. In the case of additional hours, while not a condition of enrolment, part-time and full-time services may prioritise places for those who wish to avail of extra hours over those availing of ECCE only.
I have appointed Stranmillis University College, Belfast to undertake an independent review of the ECCE programme. The review is assessing 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 final report of the review is nearly complete, once it has been finalised I will consider the review in its entirety and consider any policy changes that may need to be made to the programme.
