Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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263. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 981 of 6 November 2018, if she will address a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47247/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department is not in a position to comment on individual cases of children who availed of overage exemptions. Every application is considered on its own merits and in general no exemptions are granted to children who have availed of their full eligibility under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. However, in an extremely limited number of exceptional circumstances overage exemptions were granted for children who had availed of their full eligibility under ECCE. Officials in my Department are aware of two cases in the last number of years where this was granted.

My Department and the Department of Education and Skills continue to work together to ensure that early years and school age education policies are consistent and meet the best interest of children.