Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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289. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the loophole in the ECCE scheme which is discriminating against children when it comes to the provision of child care; her plans to close this loophole and rectify this situation for thousands of parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3301/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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As the Deputy is aware, the initial Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme had one entry point (September) from when children could begin pre-school and children had to be aged between 3 years and 2 months and 4 years and 7 months by the September to avail of the free pre-school year (i.e. 38 weeks). The programme was then expanded by reducing the age of eligibility to 3 years and by increasing the number of entry points to three throughout the programme year (September, January and April). This means that children can begin to avail of their free place on the pre-school programme as soon as possible after they reach the age of 3. Eligibility for the ECCE programme is bounded at the upper end by the requirement that children begin primary education from the age of 6. Providing free pre-school for children from the age of 3 was a key recommendation of the Expert Advisory Group on the Early Years Strategy.

We must also be cognisant of children's levels of development, as the scheme contains both a care and education component. Participation in ECCE provides children with their first formal experience of early learning, the starting-point of their educational and social development outside the home.  Children who avail of pre-school are more likely to be ready for school and a formal learning and social environment.

I would also note to the Deputy that plans are currently in train to provide for a new national scheme of financial support for parents towards the cost of their childcare entitled the Affordable Childcare Scheme, which will replace the existing targeted childcare subsidisation schemes with a single, streamlined and more user-friendly scheme. The new scheme will provide a system from which both universal and targeted subsidies can be provided towards the cost of childcare. In the case of targeted subsidies, these will be payable for children from 6 months of age up to 15 years of age. The level of subsidy will depend on the investment available and on a family’s income. The new Affordable Childcare Scheme does not replace ECCE as it is intended to provide “wraparound‟ care for pre-school and school-age children.