Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:381. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the annual cost of increasing the number of ECCE weeks to 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50 respectively. [19105/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 13 April 2017
Ceisteanna (381)
Freagraí scríofa
When introduced, the ECCE scheme provided free-preschool for 38 weeks of the year. The 38 weeks broadly mirrored the primary school academic year. When ECCE was expanded as a result of Budget 2016, it enabled all children to attend ECCE from the age of three, entering at one of three entry points after their third birthday, September, January or April, and remain there until they started in primary school, with the exception that they could not be more than 5 years and 6 months when they finished ECCE in June. This followed a recommendation from the Expert Group "Right from the Start".
Using the current levels of enrolment and uptake the following estimates would apply. In general the cost is slightly in excess of €7.5m per week added.
|
Weeks |
Costs |
|
38 (current ECCE cycle) |
279m (total) |
|
39 |
7.5m |
|
40 |
15m |
|
41 |
23m |
|
42 |
31m |
|
43 |
38m |
|
44 |
46m |
|
45 |
54m |
|
46 |
62m |
|
47 |
69m |
|
48 |
77m |
|
49 |
85m |
|
50 |
93m |
It should be noted that this question only addresses the financial aspect of such increases. Any such changes would require revision of rules around eligibility and enrolment dates and would need to look at issues of capacity with regard to physical space, staffing capacities and other associated matters.