Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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290. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has reviewed the impact of its own ECCE guidance for late-December births, specifically where parents were advised they could defer entry in the child’s best interests; and if she will publish any internal analysis on cases where children were subsequently locked out of their second ECCE year as a result. [66575/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two year preschool 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 not reach 5 years and 6 months on or before June 30th of each programme year.

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 into primary school with their peers.

The ECCE programme is governed by the ECCE rules, clearly setting out eligibility criteria related to birth dates and which ensures equal treatment for all eligible children. The advice referred to is not my Departments policy and does not form part of the ECCE rules.

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 and potential flexibility within these criteria were examined as part of this review.

On foot of the ECCE review and in line with the Programme for Government commitment to “evaluate options to amend the ECCE eligibility criteria”, Department officials are considering changes to the ECCE age criteria. Any change to the ECCE programme such as age eligibility criteria will require a thorough review of the evidence available and consideration of the impacts on the relevant children, parents and preschool providers.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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291. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will establish an exceptional review mechanism for children who miss the ECCE upper age limit by fewer than seven days due to guidance provided by the Department or by ECCE operators; and if she has assessed the financial and developmental impact of this situation on families. [66576/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal two year preschool 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 not reach 5 years and 6 months on or before June 30th of each programme year.

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 into primary school with their peers.

The ECCE programme is governed by the ECCE rules, clearly setting out eligibility criteria related to birth dates and which ensures equal treatment for all eligible children. The advice referred to is not my Departments policy and does not form part of the ECCE rules.

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 and potential flexibility within these criteria were examined as part of this review.

On foot of the ECCE review and in line with the Programme for Government commitment to “evaluate options to amend the ECCE eligibility criteria”, Department officials are considering changes to the ECCE age criteria. Any change to the ECCE programme such as age eligibility criteria will require a thorough review of the evidence available and consideration of the impacts on the relevant children, parents and preschool providers.