Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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131. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she or her Department will advise on an ECCE placement being withdrawn (details supplied). [2613/26]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal free two-year programme available to all children within the eligible age range. The ECCE Programme is provided for 3 hours per day, 5 days per week over 38 weeks per programme year.

Early learning and care and school aged childcare services are provided by private enterprises, either privately owned or operated by community organisations. While service providers are contracted with this Department to provide ECCE at a subsidised rate to parents, they are free to set their own admission policies.

Under the ECCE rules, service providers must offer free ECCE only sessions for the ECCE programme year. However, while not a condition of enrolment, part-time and full-time services may prioritise places for those who wish to avail of extra hours over those availing of ECCE only.

The Department funds a national network of County Childcare Committees (CCCs) who provide support and advice to parents and childcare providers and can also mediate issues of concern. I would urge your constituent to contact their local CCC as soon as possible, details of which can be found at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/city-and-county-childcare-committees/.

Separately, the Equal Status Acts prohibit discrimination and harassment on specified grounds in the access to and supply of goods and services. Your constituent may wish to consult the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission for information on the procedures for submission of complaints under these Acts. The Commission's ‘Your Rights’ information service is available at Your Rights, IHREC, 16–22 Green Street, Dublin 7, D07 CR20 or by phone at 01-8589601, or by email at info@ihrec.ie.

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is the independent, statutory body established to hear complaints in relation to employment, equality, and equal status legislation. For information on how to refer a complaint to the WRC, your constituent may contact the Information & Customer Service, Workplace Relations Commission, O'Brien Road, Carlow, R93 E920 in writing, or by phone at 059 9178990 / Lo Call 0818 808090.

Please note time limits in relation to making complaints may apply and if your constituent is thinking of making a complaint, if they have not already done so, the service provider must be notified first within 2 months of the alleged act of discrimination, stating the nature of the allegation and the intention.