Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 April 2017
797. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of increasing the capitation grant for the free preschool year by €5 per week per child for both existing lower and higher capitation rates. [17575/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe actual cost of this proposal would be subject to a number of factors including actual levels of participation, and the number of children subvented at the 'higher capitation' rate- costs increase as the number of higher qualified staff increase. My Department estimates the cost of such a measure to be in the region of €20m per annum, with increases of €3m annually for every additional 1% of children paid at the higher capitation rate.
