Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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981. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the ECCE hours have ever been extended in circumstances in which the child has already availed of the maximum allocation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45574/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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 At its inception in 2010, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme only operated for a 38 week period, or one programme year.  For some children with special or additional needs, attending preschool five days a week was not feasible and so an allowance was made to enable them split ECCE over programme 2 years, for example, a child may have availed of 3 days ECCE provision in year one and 2 days in year two.

From September 2018, all children meeting the minimum age requirement of 2 years and 8 months are eligible for a full two programme years on the Early Childhood Care and Education programme (ECCE). This measure refines the measure introduced last year and increases the duration of each registered child on ECCE from a current average of 61 weeks, to a potential duration of 76 weeks (two programme years). This delivers fully on a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government that is good for children, families and Early Years providers.

The upper age limit of 5 years and 6 months for completing the ECCE programme was set in consultation with senior officials from the Early Years Education Policy Unit in the Department of Education and Skills and is consistent with the law in Ireland with regard to school start age and the associated policy of the Department of Education and Skills.

A part of the criteria for assessing any application for an exemption to this upper age limit is whether a child has already availed of the full ECCE provision. Every application is considered on its own merits having regard to the individual circumstances pertaining and the legislative requirements around school starting age and any extension where full eligibility has been availed of under the programme will only be considered in very exceptional circumstances.