Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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546. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason there will be only one entry point for the new early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme from 1 September 2018 and not the three periods as it is in the current programme; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this will lead to situations in which children who are not two years and eight months of age on 1 September will ultimately be held back in crèches and not start junior infants until they are almost six years of age; if consideration will be given to particular cases whereby children will miss the qualifying date by a few days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17832/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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From September 2018, all children 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 programme (ECCE). The upper age ECCE requirement is that the child must not reach 5 years and 6 months before the end of the programme year.

Some children will not be able to commence their ECCE in September 2018 as they will not have reached the age of 2 years and 8 months on or before 31st August 2018. However, they will be able to commence ECCE in September 2019, and continue for a further year from September 2020, commencing school in September 2021. Parents of children born around this time of the year may prefer for their children to start school at 4 rather than 5. These parents may therefore choose to avail of 1 year of ECCE only. However, it is important to note that this is a parental choice and that the overall policy change has ensured that two programme years are available to all children, an improvement on the system as it has operated to date.

This extension to ECCE from September 2018 refines the development introduced last year, whereby three intake dates were adopted, and will increase the duration of each registered child on ECCE from a current average of 61 weeks, to an entitlement to 76 weeks (two programme years). This enhancement delivers fully on a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government that is good for children, families and Early Years providers.

This new measure will also address the situation where there was a wide range in the number of preschool weeks a child could avail of – between 61 and 88 weeks – and will ensure a programme that is equitable for all children.

The number of entry points will revert to one at the beginning of the new programme year (September, 2018). 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 easier for parents to secure places on the ECCE programme for their children.

At a broader level, I announced on the 6th December 2017 that I have put a pause on the decision to remove the ECCE over age exemption so that further consultation with parents can occur. Until the consultation is complete, and both the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Education and Skills have time to consider its findings, the overage exemption will continue to be available. In practice, this means that my Department is continuing to accept and approve applications for the September 2018/2019 ECCE year.