Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
143. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number, and age, of ECCE scheme applicants in the towns of Leixlip, Maynooth, Celbridge and Naas in the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13386/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides universal, 2 free preschool years to children in the eligible age range of 2 years and 8 months to 5 years and 6 months. Children must turn 2 years and 8 months on or before 31st August at the start of the programme year to be eligible for ECCE. Only children in this age range are ECCE eligible.
Data supplied by Pobal, the administrators of the ECCE programme on behalf of the Department, shows the number of children availing of the ECCE scheme, aged between 2 years 8 months to 5 years 6 months, from Leixlip, Maynooth, Celbridge, and Naas over the past five years are in tabular form below:
|
Town |
ECCE 2021 |
ECCE 2022 |
ECCE 2023 |
ECCE 2024 |
ECCE 2025 |
|
Celbridge |
451 |
445 |
375 |
374 |
359 |
|
Leixlip |
406 |
449 |
447 |
481 |
457 |
|
Maynooth |
449 |
459 |
432 |
404 |
412 |
|
Naas |
573 |
551 |
591 |
678 |
652 |
|
TOTAL |
1,876 |
1,891 |
1,841 |
1,933 |
1,874 |
