Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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461. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of applications that were made under the over age exemption in each year since 2016. [52701/17]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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462. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of successful applications that were made under the over age exemption in each year since 2016. [52702/17]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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463. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the additional cost incurred to her department as a result of over age exemptions being approved in each year since 2016. [52703/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 461 to 463, inclusive, together.

The ECCE scheme, when introduced in 2010, allowed for exemptions from the upper age limit in exceptional circumstances where a child had special needs. Applications for such exemptions must be submitted in writing to the DCYA, and must include a letter of recommendation from a medical specialist (not a GP) supporting the application for the child to avail of the overage exemption.

The figures below set out:

- Total applied for 2016/2017

- The number of approved applications for 2016/2017,

- The numbers of unsuccessful applications due to lack of medical recommendation paperwork for 2016/2017. On occasion parents or service providers have made an application for an overage exemption but neglected to supply the required letter from a qualified medical specialist. In these cases officials from my Department have made contact with the parents requesting the submission of this letter. However, if no letter of recommendation is forthcoming, my Department has been unable to proceed with the application process.

- Total approved for 2017/2018

- The number of approved applications for 2017/2018, and,

- The number of applications awaiting the medical recommendation paperwork for 2017/2018 programme year. (Please note that we keep those applications pending until we hear back from the applicant or until the programme year is closed).

Traditionally under the ECCE scheme, an overage exemption was made available in cases where a child had special needs and required the ECCE year (then 38 weeks only) to be split over two years. Children approved for this measure merely split their entitlement over 2 years, attending for 2 days per week for the first year and 3 days per week for the second year for example.

An overage exemption did not change the entitlement to the number of ECCE weeks therefore it was intended to be a cost neutral measure'. My officials are currently examining whether any additional expenditure was incurred.