Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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8. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of take-up of the ECCE free preschool year for 2017 and 2018; the way in which it has been impacted by the change in dates and requirements for entry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52469/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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According to the latest figures there are 105,503 children registered on the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme for 2018/2019.

The comparable figure for the same time last year was 90,589. The figure in the earlier years of ECCE stood at approximately 67,000 children. The increase in participation for this programme year is explained by the extension of the ECCE programme to a full two year provision.

All children meeting the minimum age requirement of 2 years and 8 months are now eligible for a full two programme years on ECCE. This measure increases the duration of each registered child on ECCE from the original entitlement of 38 weeks to a potential duration now 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 Learning and Care providers.

Now that we have a full two-year programme, we reduced the number of entry points from three to one in September this year. One enrolment period at the start of the pre-school year helps to streamline the administration process and makes it easier for childcare providers to operate and budget for the programme year.

It also makes it easier for parents to secure places on the ECCE programme for their children. ECCE now mirrors school entry, with one enrolment point.

The minimum and maximum ages for ECCE were chosen based on a number of considerations. These were:

- national experience,

- a review of international practice,

- the regulatory environment for early learning and care,

- issues such as child development readiness,

- adult-child ratios and the policy of the Department of Education and Skills with regard to school start age.

I believe that the new system is right for children and helps ensure that parents and providers can plan with clarity for the needs of children.