Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:362. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of extending the early childhood care and education scheme to 48 weeks. [12054/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 25 May 2016
Ceisteanna (362)
Freagraí scríofa
In Budget 2016, my Department announced a significant expansion to pre-school provision under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. This measure, which will be introduced from September 2016, means that children will be eligible to start free pre-school when they reach the age of 3, and continue to avail of free pre-school until they start primary school (once the child is not older than 5½ years at the end of the pre-school year i.e. end June). Following the introduction of the expanded programme there will be three opportunities each programme year - in September, January and April - for eligible children to enrol for the free pre-school provision. This will ensure that children aged 3 or over have the opportunity to enrol as soon as possible after their third birthday.
The expansion of the ECCE programme 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.
In 2017, assuming 60% of children will attend higher rate services and 40% of children will attend standard rate services, it is estimated that the cost of extending the ECCE programme to 48 weeks would be an additional €89.916 million.