Ireland's free pre-school programme at Confey Montessori — what it is, who's eligible for September 2026, and how to register.
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme is Ireland's universal free pre-school programme, funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and administered by Pobal.
Under ECCE, eligible children receive 15 hours of free pre-school per week — three hours a day, Monday to Friday, over 38 weeks of the pre-school year (September to June). Children can take part for up to two pre-school years before starting primary school.
Confey Montessori is a registered ECCE provider, so children attending our pre-school sessions can avail of the scheme in full.
To begin ECCE at Confey Montessori in September 2026, a child must meet two age criteria:
In practical terms, this means children with a date of birth between approximately 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2023 will be eligible for the September 2026 intake.
Eligibility rules are set nationally and may be subject to small adjustments. We recommend confirming your child's eligibility with us when enquiring about a place — Jen Kelly will be happy to talk you through it.
Once a place has been offered and accepted, registering your child for ECCE is straightforward. You'll need:
We submit the registration on your behalf through the national Programmes Implementation Platform (PIP), so there's no portal you need to log into yourself.
The ECCE scheme covers the cost of three hours of pre-school per day, five days a week, for 38 weeks of the year. There are no fees from the family for the standard ECCE sessions.
If your child takes additional hours beyond the ECCE allocation (for example, an extended morning or afternoon session, or care outside the 38-week ECCE term), additional fees will apply. Please contact Jen Kelly for current rates and options that suit your family.
Email info@confeymontessori.comThe application process is the same as for any place at Confey Montessori:
Call or email Jen Kelly to introduce your family and confirm your child's age eligibility for September 2026.
Come and see our prepared environment in person. Visits are by appointment.
Once a place has been offered and accepted, we'll send you the ECCE registration form along with the rest of the enrolment paperwork.
For full official information on the scheme, see Citizens Information.
Jen Kelly is happy to walk you through the scheme and confirm whether your child is eligible for the September 2026 intake.
Email info@confeymontessori.com Send a message