I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 145 together.
The free Pre-School Year in 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 this universal programme. It is expected that the programme this year will cost up to €175 million when all of the costs are taken into account.
No specific cost analysis has been commissioned in relation to the provision of a second free pre-school year. However, it is estimated that the additional costs of providing a second year would be similar to the costs incurred in providing the one year free pre-school provision. In the region of 65,000 children, that is approximately 95% of children who are eligible, have availed of the free pre-school provision each full year since the introduction of the programme. It is not anticipated that the participation rate in a second pre-school year would be as high as that currently experienced and on this basis it is estimated that the cost of the second year would be in the region of €150m to €175m.
While I am aware of the need to further develop the early childhood care and education sector the requirement for considerable additional funding in a time of financial constraints means that it is not possible to expand the programme at this time. I am 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. In particular, I would like to see further progress in workforce development within the sector given the demands which expansion would place on the current pool of trained staff.
Future developments relating to early years care and education are being considered in the context of the National Early Years Strategy for children aged from birth to six years, which is being developed by my Department and expected to be completed later this year.
Question No. 139 answered with Question No. 133.
