James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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553. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41342/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is 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 1st of September start date.

The minimum eligibility age for the ECCE programme was revised in September 2018 when it was reduced from 3 years to 2 years and 8 months. The revised minimum of 2 years and 8 months was chosen based on national experience and a review of international practice.

I accept that the use of age limits in a scheme such as ECCE creates a situation whereby a child can fall just outside the age range, however, my Department have to place an age cut-off at a particular point, and in the interests of fairness and consistency there can be no discretion in this regard.

I appointed Stranmillis University College, Belfast, to undertake an independent review of the ECCE programme. The review was designed to assess whether the ECCE programme is meeting its core objectives and to identify any opportunities for enhancements that can be made to the programme.

The review is now complete and will be published shortly. I am considering the findings from the review and any policy changes that may need to be made to the ECCE programme.

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.