Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 November 2018
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Early Childhood Care and Education Expenditure
200. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of increasing the number of programme weeks in the early childhood care and education and ECCE programmes by one week to 14 weeks, respectively in tabular form. [49890/18]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides for a programme of early learning for children before commencing primary school.
With effect from September 2018, all children meeting the minimum age requirement of 2 years and 8 months will be eligible for a full two programme years on the ECCE scheme. This further enhancement delivers fully on a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government that is good for children and families.
The below table shows the cost of increasing the number of weeks available to children in 2019, based on estimated registration figures:
Increase in ECCE Programme Weeks (€m)
|
Additional |
Number of Weeks |
Total Cost |
Increase |
|
0 |
38 |
298.1 |
0 |
|
1 |
39 |
305.9 |
7.8 |
|
2 |
40 |
313.8 |
15.7 |
|
3 |
41 |
321.6 |
23.5 |
|
4 |
42 |
329.5 |
31.4 |
|
5 |
43 |
337.3 |
39.2 |
|
6 |
44 |
345.2 |
47.1 |
|
7 |
45 |
353.0 |
54.9 |
|
8 |
46 |
360.9 |
62.8 |
|
9 |
47 |
368.7 |
70.6 |
|
10 |
48 |
376.5 |
78.4 |
|
11 |
49 |
384.4 |
86.3 |
|
12 |
50 |
392.2 |
94.1 |
|
13 |
51 |
400.1 |
102.0 |
|
14 |
52 |
407.9 |
109.8 |
