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Early Childhood Care Education

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 February 2014

Tuesday, 11 February 2014

Questions (550)

Áine Collins

Question:

550. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not received the higher capitation grant for the early childhood care and education free preschool year. [6416/14]

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Written answers

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, which provides a free pre-school year for all children before they commence primary school, is implemented by my Department. Approximately 68,000 children avail of the programme each year.

It is currently a requirement of the programme that all the pre-school leaders in participating childcare services must hold, as a minimum, a qualification at FETAC Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland (NFQ). A standard weekly capitation fee of €62.50 is paid for each eligible child participating in the ECCE programme in these services. A higher capitation fee is payable to pre-school service providers where all the pre-school leaders delivering the ECCE programme hold a bachelor degree in childhood/early education (minimum of Level 7 on the National Framework for Qualifications ( NFQ) or equivalent) and have 3 years experience working in the sector, and where all the pre-school assistants in the service hold a relevant major award in childcare/early education at level 5 on the NFQ or its equivalent.

Where a service provider applies for the higher capitation rate, the relevant qualifications are checked in my Department to confirm eligibility. The ratios and sessions operated within the service must also be checked to ensure that all the ECCE children in the service are benefiting from the higher qualified staff.

Because of the high level of checking required, and because the range of qualifications which may entitle the service to the higher rate is very wide, the checking process can be slow. Staff resources have been prioritised towards ensuring that all pre-school services receive payment at the standard rate in respect of all the children in the service. However, every effort is being made to process all outstanding higher capitation claims as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, many service providers have been inconvenienced by the delay in awarding the higher capitation rate and this is deeply regretted. I can assure them, however, that where they are found to qualify for the higher rate, payment will be backdated.

My Department is currently working with Pobal with a view to transferring some of the administrative functions of the ECCE and other Childcare Programmes to that organisation. It is anticipated that at least part of this transfer will have been completed by September 2014. This will free up staff resources within my Department which are currently occupied in the manual processing of a significant amount of ECCE documentation.

In relation to the particular case raised by the Deputy, I am glad to let you know that the service provider concerned is entitled to the higher capitation rate. The application has been processed and the arrears due to the provider will be issued this week.

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