Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1230. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter in relation to the ECCE scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19056/21]

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. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and 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.

This minimum age was chosen based on national experience and a review of international practice. 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.)

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.

In 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 before starting primary education or similar- ECCE Allocation taken - if a child has had the full 2 years they will not be eligible.

Letters of recommendation can be submitted via email to: eyqueries@equality.gov.ie