389. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she is aware that some children born shortly after the ECCE eligibility cutoff date may receive only one year of ECCE before commencing primary school; and if she has assessed the educational and financial impact of this on affected families. [74974/26]

The ECCE programme provides up to two years of pre-school free of charge to families and is based on the National Practice Frameworks - Aistear and Síolta. Currently, children are eligible for ECCE starting at 2 years and 8 months to an upper age limit of 5 years and 6 months. The current ECCE eligibility criteria were set based on a number of considerations, including national experience and a review of international practice. The lower age range is informed by 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 current arrangements also ensure that all children have the same eligibility for 2 years of ECCE.

The age eligibility criteria for ECCE have evolved significantly over the lifetime of the programme. When first introduced in 2010, eligibility was limited to children aged between 3 years and 2 months and 4 years and 7 months and provided one year of pre-school. In 2016, the eligibility criteria for the Programme changed with children eligible to enrol in the Programme at age three and remain in Programme until they transitioned to primary school. Three enrolment points were introduced – September, January and April and the average number of funded weeks under the Programme increased to 61 weeks (ranging from 38 weeks to 88 weeks depending on the child’s date of birth, age when first enrolling in the Programme and parental choice with regard to school starting age).

Owing to a number of factors, including challenges with the multiple entry point for children, parents and providers, the age eligibility changed again in 2018 to the current criteria, which provides two full years of ECCE for children starting at 2 years and 8 months to an upper age limit of 5 years and 6 months.

The Department recognises that the use of age limits in programmes such as ECCE can result in some children narrowly falling outside the eligibility range in a given year. However, in the interest of fairness and consistency, the Department must apply a clear and fixed age threshold, and cannot make exceptions. The current arrangements ensure that all children have the same entitlement of 2 years of ECCE regardless of their birth date. Some parents may prefer for their children to start school at age 4 rather than 5 years. These parents may therefore choose to avail of 1 year of ECCE only. However, it is important to note that this is a parental choice and that the overall policy ensures that two programme years are available to all children.

In line with the Programme for Government commitment to “evaluate options to amend the ECCE eligibility criteria”, Department officials are considering potential changes. Shaping the Future, Early Years Action Plan Phase 1 Report published in December 2025, notes that the potential to extend the ECCE free pre-school programme and amend the age-eligibility criteria will be included in consultations and analysis under Phase 2 of the Action Plan. Phase 2 actions, which will be undertaken from 2027 through to the end of 2029, will be published in Q4 2026. Before Phase 2 actions can be specified in line with the Programme for Government commitment, a broad public consultation process is currently underway.

Any changes to the ECCE Programme will need to be carefully considered and grounded in robust evidence. This includes assessing the impacts on children’s development, families, ECCE providers and educators, as well as ensuring consistency, equity and sustainability across the programme.