Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2012
965. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to extend the early childhood care and education scheme in terms of the hours provided and for an additional year in view of the evidence of the clear benefits of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48133/12]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. In line with the Programme for Government, my Department has made a significant commitment to maintaining the universal free pre-school year. About 65,000 children, that is approximately 95% of children in the year before school, are availing of the free pre-school provision at this time.
In 2011, the ECCE programme cost approximately €163 million. Additional funding has been made available for 2012 when the cost of the programme is expected to rise to €175 million to cater for changing demographics and provide for the increased number of children in the relevant age cohort.
I am aware of the need to further develop the early childhood care and education sector. However, any development that involved further provision of pre-school would require considerable additional funding and given the financial constraints under which the Government is currently operating it is not possible to provide for any enhancements to the programme at this time. I am also very conscious that work is continuing on improvement of quality within the pre-school year. All of the available evidence indicates that the quality of the provision is key to good outcomes for children. I would therefore hope to invest further in quality before expanding the programme.
Future developments relating to early years care and education will, of course, be considered during preparation of the new National Early Years Strategy 2012.
