Written answer
Early Childhood Care and Education
ECCE attendance rules remain unchanged; parents may agree fewer than five days with providers, who must record actual attendance and cannot impose additional days.
1042. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the rationale for changes to attendance for children in ECCE to register five days per week; the consultation that took place on this change before its implementation; and if she acknowledges the importance of flexibility in ECCE for parents and the difficulty for providers in enforcing attendance that may not suit parents and children in ECCE. [65038/26]
Comment on this
Attendance rules for children attending ECCE for the 2026/2027 programme year remain the same as the previous 2025/2026 programme year.
ECCE Rules 2026/2027, Section 3.3 states that:
"ECCE must be available free of charge to Parents/Guardians for 3 hours a day, 5 days per week for 38 weeks/182 days during the 2026/2027 programme year, in return for the capitation ECCE Approved Providers receive from the DCDE."
ECCE programme rules 2026/2027 Section 6.1 states:
"The service manager or childminder must confirm and agree with Parents/Guardians the attendance that the child is being registered for, prior to registering the child for the ECCE Programme.
Each child’s registration must reflect the actual attendance pattern of the child. Where there is a discrepancy between attendance and registration, the ECCE Approved Provider must amend the registration on the EY HIVE.
Once a child is registered and in attendance on 2026/2027 ECCE Programme, the ECCE Approved Provider cannot make continued attendance on the ECCE Programme conditional on the parents/guardians availing of additional childcare hours.
Failure to update registrations to reflect the actual attendance pattern may result in an over-claim due to the Department. Over-claims will be recouped in accordance with the ECCE Funding Agreement. Instructions on child registration are available on the EY HIVE."
As such, a parent/guardian can choose less than 5 days, on agreement with the provider, at pre-registration. The provider cannot require the parent to increase their registered days without the parent or guardian’s agreement. Equally, a provider is not required to offer more days than have been agreed at pre-registration.