ECCE
About the Scheme:
Full details about the scheme can be found on the DCEDIY website.
Child Age Eligibility
The programme is available to all children from the September after the child has turned 2 years and 8 months.
This table shows the eligibility for ECCE by year of birth.
| Birth date between | ECCE start date | ECCE end date |
| 1st January 2015 – 31st December 2015 | 1st September 2018 +1st September 2019 | June 2020 |
| 1st January 2016 – 31st December 2016 | 1st September 2019 + 1st September 2020 | June 2021 |
| 1st January 2017 – 31st December 2017 | 1st September 2020 + 1st September 2021 | June 2022 |
| 1st January 2018 – 31st December 2018 | 1st September 2021 + 1st September 2022 | June 2023 |
| 1st January 2019 – 31st December 2019 | 1st September 2022 + 1st September 2023 | June 2024 |
Sessional Services
If your child attends a half-day or “sessional” service, such as a playschool, Montessori or Naíonra, the normal pattern for the free pre-school year is 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, over 38 weeks. If your child attends for more than 3 hours, you will be charged for the extra time. If your child’s sessional service cannot open for 5 days a week, the normal pattern for the free pre-school year is 3 hours and 30 minutes a day, 4 days a week, over 41 weeks.
