Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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579. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a child (details supplied) cannot avail of a second free preschool year. [41841/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal programme available to all children within the eligible age range. A child must have turned 2 years and 8 months on or before 31 August in the programme year, and not be older than 5 years and 6 months on or before 30 June of the second year, to be eligible for the programme.

Exemptions from the upper age limit may be granted where a child has special/additional needs. Applications for such exemptions must be submitted in writing to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and will only be considered under the following criteria:

- The application must include a letter of recommendation from a medical specialist (not a GP/Public Health Nurse) stating that it is in the best interest of the child to avail of a further year of pre-school;

- The child does not turn 6 during the 2019/2020 ECCE programme year; and

- The child has not availed of their full allocation of two years of ECCE provision.

My Department has not received any application for an overage exemption for the child named. Her parents may wish to apply now and I would draw their attention to the fact that the application must comply with the criteria outlined.

This Department does its best to ensure, in so far as possible, the equitable treatment of all children and families who apply for childcare funding under the ECCE Programme. In order to ensure objectivity and fairness, it is essential that clear rules exist for the scheme and that they are applied evenly.

Current policy requires that any request for an exemption from ECCE eligibility must be supported by a letter from a medical specialist/Social Worker (not a GP/Public Health Nurse) specifically recommending an exemption for the child. This requirement is not intended to undermine the view of a parent/teacher or other in relation to a child’s needs but, rather, to maintain a clear and standard basis for applying exemptions.

Examples of accepted specialist/medical recommendations are as follows:

Speech and Language Therapist; Occupational Therapist; Senior Psychologist; Physiotherapist; Paediatrician/developmental Neurologist; Psychiatrist; Psychotherapist; Cardiologist; Oncologist; Ophthalmologist; Otolaryngologist (ENT specialist); Gastroenterologist; Social Worker/Early Intervention Team.

This is not an exhaustive list however it provides an example of what is accepted.

Applications and letters of recommendation can be submitted via email to: eyqueries@dcya.gov.ie

Alternatively a hard copies can be posted to the following address:

Over Age Exemption Applications, Early Years Policies and Programmes,

Floor 2, Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Block 1, Miesian Plaza,

50-58 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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580. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the minimum and maximum ages for enrolment in the ECCE programme; if there is scope for discretion to be shown to individual children who are near the cut-off points and for whom an alternative starting date would be beneficial. [41887/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Since 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 development introduced the previous year and increases the duration of each registered child on ECCE from an 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.

This minimum age was chosen based on national experience and a review of international practice. It also had regard to the regulatory environment for early years care and education in this country and issues such as child development readiness and adult-child ratios.

The upper age limit for the ECCE programme remains the same (i.e. a child is not eligible if they will be 5 years and 6 months before the end of the programme year.) The upper age limit for the ECCE programme was set in consultation with the Department of Education and Skills. It ensures that children transition into primary school with their peers and limits the age range of children beginning primary school. Limiting the diversity in age ranges in children beginning primary school education is considered generally to be in the best interest of children, in relation to peer interaction in junior infants, as well as other educational considerations.

My Department does its best to ensure, in so far as possible, the equitable treatment of all children and families who apply for childcare funding under the ECCE programme. In order to ensure objectivity and fairness, it is essential that clear rules exist for the scheme and that they are applied evenly. As stated above, the Department of Education and Skills informed the policy which these rules support.

It must be noted that age limits have been used to determine eligibility since the inception of the ECCE programme in 2010. These rules are a necessary component of any Government scheme and ensure that Exchequer funding is used for its intended purpose.

It a limited number of circumstances, it is possible to apply for an overage exemption to the ECCE programme. Overage Exemptions currently provided by my Department are governed by three guiding principles as follows:

- A Letter of Recommendation supplied from a specialist (NB: Not a GP/PHN),

- Child's age - not being over 6 years of age during the exemption year (as per Educational Welfare Act, 2000)

- ECCE Allocation taken - if a child has had the full 2 years they will not be eligible.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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581. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views that it is appropriate a child (details supplied) has been denied access to the ECCE programme. [41888/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Since 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 development introduced the previous year and increases the duration of each registered child on ECCE from an 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.

This minimum age was chosen based on national experience and a review of international practice. It also had regard to the regulatory environment for early years care and education in this country and issues such as child development readiness and adult-child ratios. The upper age limit remains the same (i.e. a child is not eligible if they will be 5 years and 6 months before the end of the programme year).

The upper age limit for the ECCE programme remains the same (i.e. a child is not eligible if they will be 5 years and 6 months before the end of the programme year.) The upper age limit for the ECCE programme was set in consultation with the Department of Education and Skills. It ensures that children transition into primary school with their peers and limits the age range of children beginning primary school. Limiting the diversity in age ranges in children beginning primary school education is considered generally to be in the best interest of children, in relation to peer interaction in junior infants, as well as other educational considerations.

My Department does its best to ensure, in so far as possible, the equitable treatment of all children and families who apply for childcare funding under the ECCE Programme. In order to ensure objectivity and fairness, it is essential that clear rules exist for the scheme and that they are applied evenly. As stated above, the Department of Education and Skills informed the policy which these rules support.

It must be noted that age limits have been used to determine eligibility since the inception of the ECCE programme in 2010. These rules are a necessary component of any Government scheme and ensure that Exchequer funding is used for its intended purpose.

I do, however, fully accept that the use of age limits in a scheme such as this creates a situation whereby a child can fall just outside the age range. Some families may therefore opt for one year of ECCE only. This decision is entirely at the discretion of the parent(s) or guardian but it is important to reiterate that two full years of ECCE provision is available to all children.