Written answers

Tuesday, 17 April 2018

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes

Photo of Séamus HealySéamus Healy (Tipperary, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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1346. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to reintroduce the three enrolment points to the ECCE programme in view of the fact that some children will wait an inordinately long period for enrolment due to recent changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16693/18]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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From September 2018, allchildren meeting the minimum age requirement of 2 years and 8 months will be eligible for a full two programme years on the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme. The current take up of ECCE averages at 61 weeks, up from 38 weeks when ECCE was first introduced. From September 2018, all eligible children can avail of two full years of ECCE (76 weeks). This further enhancement delivers on a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government that is good for children, families and Early Years providers.

This new measure will address the inconsistencies that led to a wide range in the number of free preschool weeks; some children could avail of 61 weeks, while others could avail of 88 weeks, and will ensure a programme that is more equitable for children.

The number of entry points into ECCE will revert to one at the beginning of the 2018 programme year (September). One enrolment period at the start of the pre-school year will help streamline the administration process and will make it easier for childcare providers to operate and budget for the programme year. This will also make it simpler for parents to secure places on the ECCE programme for their children.

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