Preschool age exemption will apply for now

Some children with disabilities will be allowed to avail of two full years of preschool regardless of what emerges from discussions about changes to the scheme, Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone has said.

She is to shortly announce details of a consultation on plans to amend the rules. Currently, children with disabilities take part in the Government’s free early childhood care and education (ECCE) programme beyond the age limits applying to other children.

The consultation was announced in December, in response to concerns from some parents about the proposal to end the “over-age exemption”.