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 ECCE scheme provides up to 2 years of early childhood care and education for children of pre-school age.
A researcher has read this record against the official page.
Last checked against the official page on 5 October 2026
Source: www.citizensinformation.ie
Report an error Something wrong or out of date? Tell us.
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.
- Maternity Benefit
- Paternity Benefit
- Parent's Benefit
- Adoptive Benefit
- Health and Safety Benefit
- Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA)
- Carer's Support Grant
- Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA)
- National Childcare Scheme (NCS) childcare subsidies
- Back to Work Family Dividend (BTWFD)
- Guardian's Payment (Contributory and Non-Contributory)
- Bereaved Parent Grant (formerly Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant)
Similar programmes
Bereaved Parent Grant (formerly Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant)
Department of Social Protection (DSP)
Carer's Support Grant
Department of Social Protection (DSP)
Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA)
Department of Social Protection (DSP)
Adoptive Benefit
Department of Social Protection (DSP)
Maternity Benefit
Department of Social Protection (DSP)
Parent's Benefit
Department of Social Protection (DSP)