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Early Child Care Education Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2012

Tuesday, 13 November 2012

Questions (570)

Derek Keating

Question:

570. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans for the early childhood care and education scheme; her views on the benefits of this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49582/12]

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Written answers

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides for one free pre-school year for all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school.

In line with the Programme for Government, my Department has maintained the pre-school year on a universal and free basis. The universal nature of this programme is critical for childhood development by providing every child with early learning and preparation for school. In this context the funding for the pre-school year was increased from €163 million in 2011 to €175.8 million in 2012 to cater for changing demographics.

The objective of the ECCE programme is to make early learning in a formal setting available to eligible children in the year before they commence primary school. Services participating in the programme are required to promote age-appropriate activities and programmes within the Síolta framework for early learning. They are also encouraged to implement the Aistear curriculum which has been developed for children aged 0 to 6 years.

The ECCE programme has been extremely successful to date with almost every pre-school service in the State involved in its delivery and approximately 66,000 eligible children participating. Access to quality and affordable child care has a major impact on the lives of children, and this programme has been particularly important for those children who may be socially or economically disadvantaged and would not otherwise be in a position to avail of quality pre-school care and education.

Future developments relating to early years care and education will, of course, be considered during preparation of the new National Early Years Strategy 2012.

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