Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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313. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding cases where payments are made to a provider but then inadvertently withdrawn before the child becomes ineligible on age grounds; if the payments may be claimed or applied retrospectively, if the child is attending a preschool that is registered with the scheme; if a child is moved from one child care provider to another, the way his Department ensures the payments continue, assuming the child is in the correct age cohort and the school is registered with the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36848/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Children are eligible to avail of the free pre-school year under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme when they are aged more than 3 years 2 months and less than 4 years 7 months at 1 September in the relevant year.

The general procedure in relation to capitation payments under the ECCE programme for children who move from one childcare provider to another was outlined in my Dáil reply to the Deputy on the 17th September 2014. I understand that the Early Years Policies and Programmes Unit in my Department has since provided a detailed response directly to your office in relation to the procedures that apply to the specific issue that is of concern to you. This Unit will provide further clarification on this matter if required.