Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 November 2015
161. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amounts paid to preschool providers for carrying out the administration work for the free preschool year in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38741/15]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, which represents an annual investment of more than €170 million, is funded by my Department through capitation grants paid directly to participating pre-school providers. This capitation payment is for the provision of the ECCE programme, including preparatory and supportive work such as engagement with parents.
The standard capitation fee paid to participating pre-school providers is €62.50 per week per eligible child. A higher capitation fee of €73 per week per eligible child is available to pre-school providers with more highly qualified staff. I announced in Budget 2016 my decision to restore the capitation payments to pre-2012 levels with effect from September 2016. This will bring the standard capitation fee to €64.50 per week for each eligible child and the higher capitation fee to €75 per week for each eligible child.
There are in the region of 4,300 pre-school providers participating in the ECCE programme with new services applying to enter the programme each year. The funding provided under the programme is a guaranteed source of income, paid in advance, and is an important support to the early years sector. I also announced in Budget 2016 an expanded provision under the ECCE programme, with effect from September 2016, which will allow children to access free pre-school provision from the time they are 3 years of age until they make the transition to primary school. When the expanded provision is fully implemented, the numbers of children availing of the programme each year will increase by almost 60,000 from current levels. This increased demand for pre-school places will assist many services throughout the country that are reporting high levels of vacancies to fill those places.
The new capitation rates will provide annual funding of €2,451 for each child enrolled in pre-school services that are in receipt of the standard capitation fee and €2,850 for those children in pre-school services in receipt of the higher capitation fee. There are currently no plans to further increase the capitation rates.
