Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if parents whose children will commence school in September 2010 and who were born after 30 June 2006 will not avail, partially, or fully of the free pre-school year in early childhood care and education scheme in view of the commitment in the 2009 budget for a free year for all children and the fact that the early child care scheme ceased in May 2009. [37838/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the implementation of the free Preschool Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which is being introduced in January 2010.

Children will qualify for the free preschool year where they are aged between 3 years 3 months and 4 years 6 months at the start of each academic year. The application of the age range is being interpreted as generously as possible, to include children who are aged more than 3 years 2 months and less than 4 years 7 months at 1 September each year. This will mean that, in January 2010, children born on or after 2 February 2005 or on or before 30 June 2006 will qualify. Children born between 2 February 2006 and 30 June 2007 will qualify for the free preschool year in September 2010. It is of course open to parents to choose to send their children to primary school rather than avail of the preschool year.

I should point out to the Deputy that the Early Childcare Supplement (ECS) which is currently payable in respect of children aged under 5 years, will cease to be payable from January 2010 rather than from May 2009.