Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1435. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will address a matter (details supplied) in relation to the early childhood care and education, ECCE, eligibility of a person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19791/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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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 beginning in September 2016 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. The upper age limit for the free pre-school programme is set at 5 years and 6 months, meaning that if a child is going to be older than 5 years and 6 months at the end of a pre-school year (i.e. end of June) they are not eligible to avail of free pre-school in that year. This upper age limit was set in consultation with the Early Years Policy Unit of the Department of Education and Skills to limit the age range of children beginning primary school and to ensure that children transition into primary school with their peers.

As this child was born in December 2011 he will be older than 5 years and 6 months by the end of June and, therefore, was not eligible for the free pre-school for the 2016/17 year.