Patrick O'Donovan
Question:379. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to revert to this Deputy on (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43029/15]
View answerTuesday, 1 December 2015
Questions (379)
Written answers
The decision to extend free pre-school provided under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme was based on recommendations set out in the Reports of the Expert Advisory Group on the Early Years Strategy in 2013 and Inter-Departmental Group on Future Investment in Childcare in 2015. Both Groups consulted widely with a range of stakeholders, including the early years sector, during the course of their work.
Under this extended Programme, there will be three opportunities for eligible children to enrol during the pre-school year: children who reach the age of 3 between April and August will have the opportunity to enrol in September; children who reach the age of 3 between September and December will have the opportunity to enrol in January; and children who reach the age of 3 between January and March will have the opportunity to enrol in April. As a result of this extension, the number of children benefiting from the Programme is expected to rise from around 67,000 to 127,000 in a given programme year. For the 2016/17 programme year, it is estimated that 89,500 children will be eligible to enrol in the Programme from September 2016, 22,000 from January 2017 and 15,500 from April 2017.
In order to provide the early years sector with the time to build capacity to meet this increased demand, a decision was taken to introduce this new measure from September 2016. As the increased demand for the Programme is not expected to peak until January and April 2017, this timeframe should allow pre-school providers to make any necessary infrastructural or service changes and to put in place extra staff resources to accommodate the additional demand.
I am satisfied that there is already additional capacity in the early years sector to cope with some of the increased demand. Indeed, the Annual Survey of Early Years Services, which was conducted in December 2014, estimates that there are more than 24,000 vacancies in early years services across the country with almost 13,000 of these vacancies in sessional services. I am also aware that every year a significant number of new pre-school providers apply to participate in this Programme, and, this increased demand for, and additional investment in, free pre-school provision should encourage a greater numbers of applicants.
The restoration of capitation rates to pre-2012 levels from September 2016 should also encourage a greater number of new applicants and encourage existing pre-school providers to expand.
I am clear that more capacity will be required and that building this capacity may pose a challenge for some pre-school providers. Officials in my Department are committed to assisting with these challenges. They are already working closely with the City and County Childcare Committees and the Voluntary Childcare Organisations on a range of measures, which will assist pre-school providers meet increased demand for free pre-school provision, particularly from January and April 2017. Further information on these measures will be available shortly.
With regard to payment for sick time for children availing of the ECCE Programme, the Programme contains provision for payment to continue in instances where the child is absent for periods of 4 consecutive weeks or less. It is only in instances where a child is absent for a period of more than 4 consecutive weeks that the pre-school provider is obliged to cease claiming payment. If the child subsequently returns to the service, payment will be re-instated.
With regard to payment for holiday time, pre-school providers voluntarily contract into the ECCE Programme on the basis of the capitation rates and number of payment weeks provided for under the Programme. It is a matter for pre-school providers themselves to decide whether the terms of the Programme are suitable for their service and whether they operate for the 38 weeks of the ECCE programme only.