As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the implementation of the new Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which provides a free Pre-School year to eligible children and which will be introduced in January 2010.
The standard capitation fee which will be payable to services participating in the new scheme, will be approximately €2,450 per annum in respect of each qualifying child availing of the free pre-school year in the service. This is equivalent to approximately €276 per month, where a service is participating for 38 weeks or €207 per month, where it participates for 50 weeks. This payment will be made, in advance, at the beginning of each term.
A higher capitation rate of €75 per week (€2,850 p.a.) was announced in July of this year and will be available to sessional playschool services in which all child care workers have qualification levels above the minimum requirements for the scheme. To qualify for the higher capitation rate all Pre-School Leaders in the service must hold a level 7 or 8 qualification relating to child care and have 3 years' experience working in the sector, and all assistants must hold a relevant level 5 qualification.