Written answers

Thursday, 27 March 2014

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Early Child Care Education Issues

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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29. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will extend the early childhood care and education programme to two years free pre-school in circumstances where local schools change their admission criteria resulting in a child who had a reasonable expectation of starting their primary education being denied that opportunity. [14003/14]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children before commencing primary school. Approximately 66,000 children are expected to avail of the provision in the current academic year. The objective of the ECCE programme is to ensure that each child is in a position to avail of one free pre-school year prior to commencing primary school. Despite the challenging budgetary situation, I have succeeded in maintaining the pre-school year as a universal and free programme, ensuring that a significant number of children can avail of quality pre-school services who would not otherwise be in a position to do so.

There are no circumstances where a second free pre-school year can be provided for under the ECCE programme. I would advise the Deputy that the Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency (EWS) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS may be able to offer assistance and advice on securing a school placement within the pupil's area. Contact details for the EWS are Educational Welfare Service, Child and Family Agency, 16-22 Green Street, Dublin 7 or by phone 01-8738623.

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