Written answers
Thursday, 25 January 2024
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Early Childhood Care and Education
Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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329. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the 12 month review of the ECCE programme that was due to be finalised in Q4 2023; whether, under this review, consideration was given to allowing multiple entry points to the ECCE scheme as was previously the case, as opposed to the current system of a single entry point; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3447/24]
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 of 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months. 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.
Any change to the design features of the ECCE programme such as the entry points to the scheme or age requirements require a thorough review of the evidence available and consultation with the children, parents and preschool providers affected by this proposed change.
As mentioned by the Deputy, I have appointed Stranmillis University College, Belfast to undertake an independent review of the ECCE programme.
The review is assessing 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 and experience to date. The ECCE age requirements are being evaluated as part of this review, the ultimate decision as to whether the age requirements should change will be informed by consultation with parents, international experts and ELC professionals.
The final report of the review is nearly complete, once it has been finalised I will consider the review in it’s entirety and consider any policy changes that may need to be made to the programme.
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