Around 100,000 children are returning to pre-school this morning under the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme. It is part of a phased reopening of childcare with a full return planned in three weeks time.
The ECCE scheme is part of the State's pre-school programme, which is delivered by over 4,000 service providers nationwide. It entitles early learners to free childcare, three hours a day, five days a week over two years.
This morning these children are returning for the first time since before Christmas. Apart from the pre-school scheme, childcare services continued to operate under Level 5 restrictions for the children of essential workers and vulnerable children.