Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
1005. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of increasing the higher and lower capitation grants by €5, €6, €7, €8, €9 and €10 per week for the early childhood care and education scheme in 2022 assuming it is introduced in September of the year and the full year cost. [31669/21]
View answerMy Department runs a number of Early Learning and Care schemes. The schemes are administered by Pobal on behalf of the DCEDIY.
€289.3m euro has been allocated to the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme in 2021.
The ECCE programme runs for 38 weeks each programme year. The standard capitation rate paid to providers is €69 per child, per week, and the higher capitation rate paid is €80.25 per child, per week. The programme currently provides 15 hours of free early learning and care per week.
The below table shows the financial impact of increasing the ECCE standard and higher capitation rates as per the question.
The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) funding is intrinsically linked to ECCE capitations and any increase in rates or durations for the ECCE programme will have an impact on associated AIM costs.
While AIM Levels 7 is awarded on a weekly basis (€210 per week), the underlying basis for this figure is the cost of ECCE capitation for 3 children. Where an increase in ECCE capitation is applied, there may be a case for a corresponding increase in AIM Level 7 costs. Initial estimates indicate that the programme will cost circa €30.8m in 2022 based on current AIM level 7 projected applications.
The table below captures the impacts of the outlined increases based on a pro rata and corresponding percentage increase would have to the estimated allocation for AIM Level 7 support costs in 2022.
