Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

407. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will make an exemption to enable a person (details supplied) in County Cork to avail of a scheme. [5610/16]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In Budget 2016 it was announced that, from September 2016, children will be eligible to start free pre-school when they turn age 3, and can continue in free pre-school until they start primary school (once the child is not older than 5½ years at the end of the pre-school year i.e. end June). The age range for eligibility for children enrolling for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme in September 2016 is 1 January 2012 to 31 August 2013.

Currently, children are entitled to one year’s free pre-school (i.e. 38 weeks during the pre-school year) under the programme. It is my understanding that the child in question is currently availing of this entitlement during the 2015/2016 programme year. As this child will be outside the eligibility age range in September 2016, she will not therefore be eligible to re-register for free pre-school then.

However, an application for an overage exemption can be made if a child has been diagnosed as having a special/additional need. Current policy requires that any request for an exemption from ECCE eligibility criteria must be supported by a medical assessment report from the HSE/medical specialist, specifying the child's special need and diagnosis. Application should be made to the Early Years Policies and Programmes Unit of my Department, attaching a supporting medical report.