Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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1186. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will advise on the assistance that can be offered to a family (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29999/22]

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 was eligible for the ECCE programme in September 2019 and again in September 2020, so has been able to benefit from the full two years of ECCE.

For children with additional needs, supports are available for school aged children through the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), affiliated to the Department of Education, to support children in the primary school setting. I would urge the parents to contact their local Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO) for further assistance on this.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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1187. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 1153 of 26 April 2022, if he will provide an update (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30026/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As previously advised in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 1153 of 26 April 2022, there has been no withdrawal of ECCE funding for the child referred to. Pobal will continue to fund this child's ECCE place until the end of the ECCE term in late June.

If the child's parents have any on-going concerns about the ECCE programme they and/or the pre-school provider can get support and advice from their local County Childcare Committee (CCC). Details of the local CCC can be found on the website myccc.ie.