Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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605. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if it will be ensured that no parents are penalised in obtaining the benefit of the ECCE scheme for their child as a consequence of Covid-19 related delays in the distribution of public services cards as in the case of a school (details supplied); if no child will lose a portion of their entitlement to two full academic years, that is 76 weeks on the ECCE scheme due to Covid-19 related delays in the administration of the cards; if a system will be put in place to ensure the childhood care provider can both obtain and give the parent the ECCE benefit retrospectively while the parent awaits receipt of the public services card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26335/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range.

To avail of ECCE for their child, parents/guardians must provide the child’s full name as per birth certificate or passport, child’s date of birth and child’s PPSN in order to register their child on the programme. There is no requirement to have a Public Services Card to avail of ECCE.

Any parent or childcare provider experiencing seeking information on ECCE or any other childcare funded programmes should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee for assistance, details can be found on myccc.ie