Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 July 2026
239. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will help resolve an issue experienced by a childcare business (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49945/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ECCE programme is administered on the basis of an academic year August to June, running 45 weeks for 38-week services per Programme Call year. ECCE Approved Providers are required to provide the ECCE programme for 182 days over 38 payable weeks during a programme call.
Although the service is offering the required 182 days for ECCE, they must also open over 38 weeks as per the ECCE rules and cited in the ECCE Funding Agreement. The 182 days must meet the 38 week criteria or the system will not allow a calendar submission. This default is designed to enable compliance with the 38 week ECCE structure.
There is much leeway in what is considered one of those 38 (payable) weeks as outlined.
The service calendar rule is :
• 2 days open = Non-payable Week
• 3 days Open = Payable Week
• 2 days Open + Bank Holiday = Payable Week.
The Department reviews the terms of the ECCE programme year during the annual process of programme readiness and takes into consideration the calendar set by the Department of Education and Youth.
In June of this year, the Department revised the ECCE term times and minimum number of weeks that ECCE Approved Providers are required to open. Term 1 now requires a minimum of 15 payable weeks (previously 16) and term 3 will now require a minimum of 8 payable weeks (previously 9) to be selected on the ECCE service calendar. Term 2 was not adjusted and requires 13 payable weeks to be selected.
This update has given ECCE Approved Providers two additional weeks of flexibility to assist them meeting their obligations under the ECCE funding agreement for the provision of 182 days over 38 payable weeks.
The Department acknowledges this particular service’s frustration in that these dates do not align with their intentions for the upcoming programme year, however it is a requirement that the ECCE programme is offered for 38 weeks between the relevant dates of the programme and providers cannot deviate from this requirement.
