Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 December 2023
143. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the annual first and full-year cost total of expanding ECCE/AIM wages over five years from three hours to eight hours, including PRSI and USC at current ERO levels. [53962/23]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme is a universal free two-year preschool programme available to all children within the eligible age range. ECCE is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and the programme year runs from September to June.
The ECCE programme is provided by private providers who enter into contracts with my Department to provide the ECCE programme to eligible children. Payment is on a per-capita basis and the capitation rates is €69 per child per week.
The figures provided below are an estimate of generally increasing payments to services consistent with an 8 hour ECCE model as requested. It is a matter for employees and employers in the context of Employment Regulation orders and Revenue requirements to agree wages, PRSI and USC.
The following calculation assumes that all services are in a position to uplift provision to 8 hours per day and that all families avail of 8 hours a day. It also assumes that all Tusla regulatory requirements are met in relation to full day care services.
The 2024 expenditure for ECCE is estimated to be approximately €256 million. Taking into account the assumptions outlined, it is estimated that the additional funding required to meet the additional 5 hours would be approximately €426 million.The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is in place to create a more inclusive environment in preschools, so all children, regardless of ability, can benefit from quality early learning and care. The model achieves this by providing universal supports to preschool settings, and targeted supports, which focus on the needs of the individual child, without requiring a diagnosis of disability.
As actual wages and supports are a matter between employer and employee, the figures hereunder can only estimate a general increase in payments to services consistent with an expanded 8 hour ECCE model set out in the Deputy’s question.
The figures cannot estimate the impact of such an expansion on wages per se.
The 2024 expenditure for the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is estimated to be approximately €45.6m.
This funding covers the cost of payments to services, which encompass a range of both universal and targeted supports during ECCE for preschool settings. ECCE, the free preschool provision is 3 hours per day, 38 weeks per year.
To note, in addition to caveats above around applying hours based on costings, this assumes that all services are in a position to uplift provision to 8 hours per day and that all families currently availing of AIM would wish avail of 8 hours and the potential growth of AIM supports. It also assumes that all supports will increase proportionately.
It also does not include the increased cost of administrative and support from central structures (including Pobal/Better Start).
Taking into account these caveats, it is estimated that the total additional funding required to meet the rise from 3 hours to 8 hours would be approximately €76m for AIM.
