Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) free pre-school programme
Scéim um Chúram agus Oideachas na Luath-Óige (ECCE)
Paid by Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) · 🇮🇪 Ireland
What this pays
The published value, how it is calculated, and whether it is cash or a credit ceiling.
Email and a six-digit code, then €50 a year. No password to forget.
Who qualifies
UnlockThe 4 published rules this programme tests you against — age, income, residency, household and the rest.
The steps, documents and official link are part of the paid plan. Checking how much you're owed stays free.
1 document you'll need
UnlockExactly what to gather before you start, so nothing sends you back to the beginning.
Where this comes from
The 15 hours provided each week under ECCE are free. DCDE pays the pre-school provider for these ECCE hours.
A researcher has read this record against the official page.
Verified on 12 August 2026
Source: www.citizensinformation.ie
Related reading: How to read a grant eligibility rule
Other family & children support in Ireland
12 more programmes are on the paid plan, with the amount, the rules, the documents and the steps for each.
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