Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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227. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will seek additional detail on the research and evidence upon which a statement (details supplied) by the interdepartmental group that decides on the school starting age policy relies upon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46589/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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School starting age is a policy matter under the remit of my Department. Children can be enrolled at primary school from the age of 4 upwards and must have started their formal education by 6 years of age. The upper age limit in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, which was recommended to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth by my Department, ensures that children transition into primary school with their peers and limits the age range of children beginning primary school. Limiting the diversity in age ranges in primary school is considered to be generally in the best interest of children, in relation to peer interaction in junior infants, as well as other educational considerations.

An Inter-Departmental Working Group (IDWG) on Future Investment in Early Years and School-Age Childcare was established in 2015 by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to identify and assess policies and future options for increasing the affordability, quality and supply of early years and school-age childcare and education services in Ireland.

The establishment of the IDWG was a key component of Ireland’s response to the European Councils’ 2014 Country Specific Recommendation to Ireland. The final report of the group was informed by national and international evidence as well as open policy debate and public consultation, and was published in July 2015.

The report provided a platform for discussion on future investment and set out a number of options and recommendations for the consideration of Government. One of the recommendations proposed by the IDWG was the extension of pre-school provision for all children which considered the most appropriate upper age limit for the ECCE programme, in line with the evidence regarding school start and the importance of children being in an age-appropriate peer group. Following consideration of the IDWG recommendations and on advice from officials in my Department the upper age limit of the ECCE programme was set at five years and six months.