Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:463. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the full year cost of extending the early childhood care and education scheme to 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 weeks. [23149/16]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 July 2016
463. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the full year cost of extending the early childhood care and education scheme to 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 weeks. [23149/16]
View answerIt is estimated that the cost of extending the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme to the number of weeks specified by the Deputy, assuming 60% of children will attend higher rate services and 40% of children will attend standard rate services, would be as follows:
No of Weeks |
Estimated Cost |
40 Weeks |
€17,520,704 |
41 weeks |
€26,987,295 |
42 weeks |
€35,041,408 |
43 weeks |
€43,801,760 |
44 weeks |
€52,562,112 |
The expansion of the ECCE programme into a second year, from September 2016, will see the number of children benefitting from the Programme rise from around 67,000 to around 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, an additional 22,000 from January 2017 and a further 15,500 from April 2017. From September 2016, the standard weekly capitation rate for each eligible child will be €64.50, and the higher weekly capitation rate will be €75.