Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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617. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider extending the ECCE scheme in order that all young children will have a place in education and will not be left in limbo (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12072/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The availability and general provision for school places is a matter for the Department of Education.

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. The programme runs from September to June each year, aligned with the primary school calendar.

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.

There are no plans to change the eligibility criteria for this Programme.

For individual parents experiencing difficulties in securing a school place, the Tusla Education Support Service can assist. Regional contact details are available at www.Tusla.ie

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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618. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider and or has evaluated the merit of offering an additional year of ECCE to children that may not be offered a place in primary school in the 2021-2022 academic year in view of increased demand on schools due to parents holding back children from commencing primary school due to the pandemic in 2020. [12098/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The availability and general provision for school places is a matter for the Department of Education.

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. The programme runs from September to June each year, aligned with the primary school calendar.

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.

There are no plans to change the eligibility criteria for this Programme.

For individual parents experiencing difficulties in securing a school place, the Tusla Education Support Service can assist. Regional contact details are available at www.Tusla.ie