The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme gives every Irish child 15 free hours of preschool per week, term-time only (September to June), for up to two years before they start primary school. It's universal — every child qualifies.
Age eligibility
Your child must be between 2 years 8 months and 5 years 6 months on 1 September of the year they start. Most children get two full ECCE years.
What's covered
- 3 hours per day, 5 days per week, 38 weeks a year
- Provided by participating creches and Montessori preschools (most are)
- The state pays the provider directly — there is no fee for the ECCE hours themselves
What's not covered
If you need childcare beyond the 3 hours per day, the wraparound hours are charged at the creche's normal rate (with NCS applied if registered).
How to apply
You don't apply through a portal — your creche enrols your child directly through the Hive system. You'll usually be asked for the child's PPS number and birth cert when you register.