Mandate urges parents to avail of free preschool year

Children born between 2 February 2005 and 30 June 2006, an age range of almost 17 months, are eligible to participate in the Early Child Care and Education scheme. If parents have not already enrolled their child, they should immediately contact either their local preschool service or their County/City Childcare Committee”.

The cold snap has delayed the start of the ECCE scheme for most services. The Ministers Office says they will be as flexible as possible in accommodating late enrolments.

The original date for participating services to make an electronic return with the children’s details was January 22nd. This has been extended to January 29th. This, in turn, will give parents an extra week to register with service providers, which they are asked to do by January 20th. In the event that parents are experiencing difficulty accessing a place, they should immediately contact their respective County/City Childcare Committee.

The ECCE scheme involves the provision of a free preschool year to all children, regardless of income or circumstance. This will enhance the social and educational development of our children. It will give each child in the country an equal chance to arrive in Junior Infants with improved personal development, speech and language skills and capacity for socialisation and Mandate would urge all parents of children who are eligible to apply for this Scheme.

Services will receive their first payment next week provided correct bank details have been supplied. No delay in payment is expected and as such there is no justification for services charging parents for what will be a free service.

More on the Early Child Care and Education scheme here.