Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 May 2016
365. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of increasing the early childhood care and education scheme lower capitation grant by €6 per child for the year 2017. [12058/16]
View answerFrom September 2016 Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) capitation rates will be restored to pre-2012 levels (i.e. €64.50 standard capitation fee and €75 higher capitation fee per child per week). Also from September 2016, the rules regarding the payment of the higher capitation rate are to be amended. The amended rules will allow Higher Capitation to be paid per room, rather than the traditional rule that all pre-school rooms must be led by a graduate in order for a service to be eligible. This will allow services who have been in receipt of Higher Capitation to retain this payment for some of their rooms, even if they do not have a graduate for their additional rooms, and will also allow more services to avail of Higher Capitation for some rooms. It is envisaged, therefore, that a greater proportion of payments will be made at the higher capitation rate.
Based on the assumption that 40% of children will attend standard capitation services and 60% will attend higher capitation services, it is estimated that the full year cost of increasing the standard capitation rate by €6 (i.e to €70.50) per child for the year 2017 would be an additional €11,116,718.
The following revision was received on 9 August 2016
Final paragraph to be amended as follows: Based on the assumption that 40% of children will attend standard capitation services and 60% will attend higher capitation services, it is estimated that the full year cost of increasing the standard capitation rate by €6 (i.e to €70.50) per child for the year 2017 would be an additional €14,339,049.60.
