Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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162. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the access and inclusion model scheme will be revised in order that ECCE providers have the option to apply for an underage exemption in the cases of children that require it (details supplied). [42226/20]

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. 

As ECCE is a pre-school programme it is not appropriate to open it to children who are have not yet reached the minimum age. 

The National Childcare Scheme provides both universal and targeted supports to parents to children from the age of 6 months, with supports based on parental income.For more information on the NCS, parents can contact the NCS Parent Support Centre on 01 906 8530 or visit www.ncs.gov.ie