Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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940. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the rationale behind the cutoff age being two years and eight months on 1 September of a given year to qualify for 15 early childhood education hours; whether there are any cases for flexibility for children slightly younger than the cut off; to provide details of any proposed changes to eligibility for these hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63760/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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. A child must not reach 5 years and 6 months on or before June 30th of each programme year.

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. A recent independent review of the ECCE Programme examined the issue of ECCE age eligibility in detail. It found that children in the youngest age range might struggle with the current ECCE programme ratios, which is commonly 1 adult to 11 children in ECCE rooms.

Department officials are exploring policy options in relation to the ECCE age criteria, as committed to in the most recent Programme for Government, based on the findings of the Independent Review of the ECCE Programme, published in 2024. Any changes to these criteria will be informed by a comprehensive consultation with parents, children and providers who are impacted by the Programme.