James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there is an appeals process for children who fall under the three years three months rule to receive the early child care supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19353/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I have responsibility for implementing the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme, which was introduced in January this year and which replaced the Early Childcare Supplement. This scheme provides for a free pre-school year for qualifying children before they commence primary school.

Children will qualify for the free pre-school year place when they are aged more than 3 years and 2 months and less than 4 years and 7 months on 1 September each year. This means that children born between 2 February 2006 and 30 June 2007 will qualify for the free pre-school provision in September 2010. The upper age limit does not apply where children and developmentally delayed and would benefit from participating in the pre-school year at a later age or where children cannot enroll for primary school until they are more than 5 years and 7 months because of the local primary schools enrolment policies and parents can seek exemptions on either of these grounds. There is no provision to waive the lower age limit.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the grants that are available for the provision of sessional pre-school facilities by persons who wish to provide same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19356/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I have responsibility for implementation of the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP) which is a multi-annual programme to improve the availability and quality of childcare options, primarily through capital grant-aiding the construction and refurbishment of childcare facilities. As you are aware, following the review of Government expenditure last year, a decision was taken not to approve any further capital grant applications and to close the NCIP to new applications. As a result, while capital grant funding amounting to €30 million to meet existing NCIP commitments is continuing to be paid in 2010, no other capital funding is currently available to my Office. The position in regard to future capital grant funding will be reviewed later this year.