Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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411. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the age of eligibility for children starting the ECCE scheme can be reviewed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13026/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The current lower age range for ECCE eligibility was 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 where a child has the capacity for this programme.

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.

It should also be noted that regardless of birth date, all children have the same entitlement of 2 years of ECCE.

An independent review of the ECCE Programme was completed last year with the final report published last October. This review examined how the Programme is currently functioning and identified enhancements that could be made based on comprehensive stakeholder engagement with children, parents, ECCE providers and educators. The current ECCE eligibility criteria were examined as part of this review.

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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412. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will consider a second lower age eligibility criteria for children starting the ECCE scheme to prevent families from missing out on a full-year of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13027/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The current lower age range for ECCE eligibility was 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 where a child has the capacity for this programme.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.It should also be noted that 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.

An independent review of the ECCE Programme was completed last year with the final report published last October. This review examined how the Programme is currently functioning and identified enhancements that could be made based on comprehensive stakeholder engagement with children, parents, ECCE providers and educators. The current ECCE eligibility criteria were examined as part of this review.

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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413. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when she intends to evaluate the eligibility of the ECCE programme, as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13028/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The deputy refers to the Programme for Government 2025, in which, this Government has committed to "Evaluate options to amend the ECCE (Early Childhood Care and Education) eligibility criteria."

An independent review of the ECCE Programme was completed last year with the final report published in October.

Overall the report indicated the remarkable success of the ECCE programme which has transformed early learning experiences and development opportunities for young children in this country.

Officials in my Department are currently exploring the issue of eligibility on foot of the ECCE review. 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 considering of the impact on the children, parents and preschool providers affected by this proposed change.

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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414. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when she intends to explore making available an extra hour of ECCE each day to families in the second year of preschool, as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13029/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The deputy refers to the Programme for Government 2025, in which, this Government has committed to "Explore making available an extra hour of ECCE each day in the second year of preschool".

An independent review of the ECCE Programme was completed last year with the final report published in October.

Overall the report indicated the remarkable success of the ECCE programme which has transformed early learning experiences and development opportunities for young children in this country.

The key parameters of the Programme were examined during this review including the number of ECCE hours provided to children.

Officials in my Department are currently considering the finding of that report including those related to ECCE hours. It is important to consider the impact of any changes to ECCE in the context of its potential opportunities impacts and risks for all stakeholders.