Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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628. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will facilitate a second-year early childhood care and education scheme place for a child (details supplied). [36780/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Thank you for your correspondence on behalf of your constituent regarding their daughter's eligibility for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme.

The ECCE programme provides universal, free preschool to children in the eligible age range of 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months. The upper age limit of 5 years and 6 months for ECCE was set in consultation with the Department of Education and ensures that children transition to primary school with their peers and limits the age range of children beginning primary school.

ECCE is not a mandatory scheme and it is at the parents' discretion if the child avails of the full two years.

All children born in 2019 could avail of two free years of ECCE beginning from September 2022 and a second year from September 2023, finishing in June 2024. In certain exceptional circumstances an overage exemption can be given to enable children with additional needs to remain in ECCE past this age limit.

Current policy requires that any request for an exemption from ECCE eligibility must be supported by a letter from a medical specialist/social worker (not a GP/PHN/Medical Officer) specifically recommending why an ECCE service would meet the child’s specific needs in a more appropriate way than a primary school. This requirement is not intended to undermine the view of a parent/teacher or other in relation to a child’s needs but, rather, to maintain a clear and standard basis for applying exemptions.

Examples of accepted specialist/medical recommendations are as follows:· Speech and Language Therapist · Occupational Therapist· Senior Psychologist· Physiotherapist· Paediatrician· Developmental Neurologist· Psychiatrist · Psychotherapist · Cardiologist · Oncologist· Ophthalmologist· Otolaryngologist (ENT specialist)· Gastroenterologist· Social Worker / Early Intervention Team

Letters of recommendation can be submitted via email to eyqueries@equality.gov.ie. Applications cannot be considered without this documentation.

In deciding on applications for exemptions to the ECCE age requirements, my Department is guided by a review of the overage exemption process which was carried out in 2018 by the National Disability Authority (NDA) for my Department and the Department of Education. In their published report, the NDA concluded that it is in the best interest of children with additional needs to transition to primary school with their age cohort.

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.

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help families with their early learning and childcare costs. Both Universal and Income assessed subsidies are available for children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years of age. For more information including how to apply, parents should visit www.ncs.gov.ie.

My Department also funds a national network of City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) who provide support and advice to parents and childcare providers on all issues for childcare funded programmes. The contact details for the CCCs can be found on www.myccc.ie.