Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 May 2016
364. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of increasing the early childhood care and education scheme higher capitation grant by €9 per child for the year 2017. [12057/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a requirement of the Early Childhood care and Education Scheme (ECCE) programme that all pre-school year leaders hold an appropriate qualification at a minimum of Level 7 and pre-school assistants hold a Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland in order to be paid the higher capitation rate.
From September 2016, the rules regarding the payment of the higher capitation rate are to be amended. The amended rules will allow Higher Capitation to be paid per room, rather than the traditional rule that all pre-school rooms must be led by a graduate to be eligible. This will allow services who have been in receipt of Higher Capitation to retain this payment for some of their rooms, even if they do not have a graduate for their additional rooms, and will also allow more services to avail of Higher Capitation for some rooms. From September 2016 ECCE capitation rates will be restored to pre-2012 levels (i.e. €64.50 standard capitation fee and €75 higher capitation fee per child per week). There are in the region of 4,300 early years services participating in the ECCE programme and more than 1,400 of these services were in receipt of the higher capitation in the 2014/2015 programme year (approximately 33%). It is envisaged that these reforms to the ECCE programme will lead to a greater proportion of payments being made at the higher capitation rate.
Based on the assumption that 60% of children will attend higher capitation services and 40% of children will attend standard capitation services, it is estimated that the full year cost of increasing the higher capitation rate by €9 (i.e to €84) per child for the year 2017 would be an additional €25,012,518.
The following revision was received on 9 August 2016
Final paragraph to be amended as follows: Based on the assumption that 60% of children will attend higher capitation services and 40% of children will attend standard capitation services, it is estimated that the full year cost of increasing the higher capitation rate by €9 (i.e to €84) per child for the year 2017 would be an additional €32,262,861.60.
