Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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225. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding an exemption for a preschool place (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27950/20]

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.

A child must have reached 2 years and 8 months of age on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible for the September start date, and a child cannot turn 5 years and 6 months of age during the course of the ECCE programme year.

The child referred to by the Deputy was eligible for the two year ECCE programme from September 2018 to June 2020, and is not eligible for the current ECCE programme year, September 2020 to June 2021. 

Expert advice received by my Department indicates that it is children's best interests to transition to primary school with their age group.  In certain limited circumstances an overage exemption is granted to children with additional needs to enable them to continue in ECCE for an additional year, but this does not apply to the case referred to by the Deputy.

With regard to the issue of financial supports available for childcare fees, the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides subsidies for childcare for children between 6 months and 15 years of age.  Information on NCS is available on www.ncs.gov.ie.

Guidance on childcare options is available to parents through their local  County Childcare Committees, contact details for which are available on www.myccc.ie.