Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party)
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442. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some children are not able to avail fully of the ECCE scheme due to there being only one date of entry per calendar year. [56631/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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All eligible children can fully avail of two years of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.

The programme is available to all children who have turned 2 years and 8 months of age before August 31st as long they won’t turn 5 years and 6 months of age on or before June 30th of the programme year. The first point of eligiblity therefore falls on the opening of the programme year at end August of every year, although they may enter later in the two year elgibility if they so choose.

While some parents may choose not to avail of the full two years, where they wish to start their children earlier or later in primary school, there are no conditions that would prevent a child being eligible for two years of ECCE under the current scheme.

I would note that my Department has recently commenced a review of ECCE which is expected to be completed by Q3 2023. The review will assess whether the ECCE Programme is meeting its core objectives and will identify any changes or improvements that can be made to the Programme, based on international evidence, experience to date as well as consultation from a wide number of stakeholders.