Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2017
602. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the introduction of a 7% increase in ECCE capitation with effect from September 2017, which represents an increase of €4.50 per week for an ECCE-age child on standard capitation rates (details supplied). [50541/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, among a number of measures announced by my Department in Budget 2018, was that from September 2018 capitation paid to Early Years providers for the delivery of the ECCE programme will increase by 7% on both the standard and higher rates. This increase will result in the following:
- Standard capitation rate will increase from €64.50 to €69 per child per week
- Higher capitation rate will increase from €75 to €80.25 per child per week
This increase in capitation acknowledges the need to improve conditions for the early years workforce, thereby supporting the recruitment and retention of high quality staff, and facilitating the continued delivery of high quality services to children. I acknowledge the fact that employers need this additional investment to enable them to improve the wages of their employees. This measure should assist providers in this endeavour and it is something that I am committed to building in the future budgets
It should be noted that the ECCE programme is a standalone pre-school programme and the capitation increase is payable to those providers who are delivering this programme.
The ‘September Measures’ relate to the introduction of the Community Childcare Subvention Universal (CCSU) payment and an increase in band rates across the different strands of the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Scheme and the Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) Scheme. These measures include a Universal payment of €80 per month for 0 – 3 yr olds registered with childcare providers, together with an average 50% increase to the band rates of the CCS/CCSP targeted schemes. It is anticipated that these measures will result in significant improvements to the operating circumstances of childcare providers.
