The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides for one free pre-school year for all eligible children before commencing primary school. A standard capitation fee of €62.50 per week per eligible child is paid to participating childcare services with a higher capitation fee of €73 per week per eligible child available to services with more highly qualified staff.
The Government succeeded in maintaining the pre-school year on a universal and free basis despite the difficult budgetary situation that prevailed in recent years. While considerable progress has been made in correcting the overall budgetary situation, the funding available to my Department following the completion of budgetary process this year does not allow for an increase in the capitation paid to childcare providers. As the economy improves and the public finances recover, I would hope that the capitation rates for all childcare programmes could be improved.
Childcare services in this country are provided by private commercial and community childcare services and the level of remuneration provided to childcare workers is a matter for the individual management of each service. There are currently no national pay scales that provide for the level of pay of childcare workers.