Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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233. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the free preschool year in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Cork may be deferred until September 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30642/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a free and universal programme which provides a free preschool year to all eligible children. The programme includes a number of additional provisions which provide for an exemption from the upper age limit for qualification under the programme in certain circumstances, and permits certain children to have the preschool year split over two years on a pro-rata basis, for example availing of the programme for 2 days a week in the first year and for 3 days a week in the second year.

I can confirm that the application for deferral of the commencement date to September 2015 for the child in question has been approved, and this has been confirmed in correspondence to the parent(s).