Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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109. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the early childhood care and education scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36810/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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At present, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme covers children who have reached the age of 3 years and 2 months by 1st September of the relevant year. Children born between 2nd February 2011 and 30th June 2012 and who have not previously availed of the ECCE programme in the Sept 2014 pre-school year, are eligible to avail of the provision in the September 2015-June 2016 pre-school year.

From September 2016, I am expanding the ECCE programme to allow children to access free pre-school from the time they are 3 years of age until they start primary school. Children born between 1st January 2012 and 31st August 2013, will be eligible to avail of the ECCE programme with effect from September 2016. Therefore, children availing of the pre-school provision in the current school year will be entitled to further provision if they satisfy the age criteria for eligibility in September 2016.

Childcare providers that have children enrolled in their facility and who are eligible for the free pre-school provision in the current school year must enroll those children on the Programme Implementation Platform (PIP) before Friday the 23rd October if they wish to avail of the capitation payments for all of the current school year.

I understand that an official in my Department has explained the position to the childcare provider in this case.