Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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605. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the rules regarding the early childhood care and education scheme will be reviewed as children who do not meet the criteria in terms of their date of birth are excluded from the scheme in its current format; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9138/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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An independent review of the ECCE Programme has recently been completed. The findings from the review are being considered by my Department and will inform any potential changes to the Programme in the future.

The current ECCE eligibility criteria were set based on a number of considerations. Firstly, the ECCE programme is a pre-school programme based on the National Practice Frameworks - Aistear and Síolta. 2 years and 8 months is considered the youngest age.

Additionally, the lower age range was set based on Tusla regulations for minimum adult to child ratios for children in early learning and childcare settings. These regulations take account of the needs and developmental stages of children such as toilet training and sleeping arrangements. The review of the ECCE Programme found that the younger age range in pre-school might struggle with the ratios which is commonly 2 adults to 22 children in ECCE rooms.

Finally, the current arrangements also ensure that all children have the same entitlement of 2 years of ECCE regardless of their birth date whereas with previous arrangements this was not always the case.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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606. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position in regard to the accommodation recognition payment due to expire at the end of March 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9176/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Accommodation Recognition Payment scheme is currently in place until 31 March 2025.

The scheme was introduced to recognise the generosity of private individuals who provide accommodation on a humanitarian basis to beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine.

As the Temporary Protection Directive has been extended to 4 March 2026, consideration is being given to the extension of the scheme. A decision will be made shortly.

The legislation that established the scheme, the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022, requires me to consult with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform before I can make an order to extend the scheme termination date.

The Act of 2022 also requires, where such an order is proposed to be made, that a draft of the order be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and that the order shall not be made until a resolution approving the draft has been passed by each House of the Oireachtas.

I believe that the scheme has made a positive impact in supporting beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine and towards their independent living and integration.

The scheme has supported my Department in meeting the accommodation needs of those fleeing the war, and has diverted thousands of beneficiaries away from State-supported accommodation, which are generally unsuitable for long-term stays, particularly for families raising children.

The payment is not made where there is a rental agreement in place, and it is not intended to substitute rent.

There are currently over 36,500 beneficiaries hosted under this scheme in over 19,500 properties nationwide.

Since the Scheme’s launch, approx. €255m has been paid to almost 22,500 hosts in respect of almost 50,500 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection.

I am grateful to the thousands of people in Ireland who have hosted beneficiaries and continue to do so.