Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:234. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated full year cost of one child's place in the ECCE programme. [19380/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 3 May 2018
Ceisteanna (234)
Freagraí scríofa
The ECCE programme operates over a 38 week programme year. Currently service providers receive €64.50 per child per week. If a service has been approved for higher capitation the weekly payment increases to €75 per child. Pre-school settings employing an Inclusion Co-ordinator under the LINC programme will receive an increase of €2 per child per week in the rate of ECCE capitation payable.
Higher Capitation is paid for individual ECCE Sessions where the ECCE Room leader holds a qualification recognised as meeting the minimum contract requirements for ECCE. LINC will be paid to settings employing an Inclusion Co-ordinator who has graduated from the LINC Programme and has agreed to take on the role and responsibilities of an Inclusion Co-ordinator.
The ECCE capitation paid to Early Years providers will increase by 7% in September 2018. This increase will result in the following:
- Standard rate – increases from €64.50 to €69
- Higher rate – increase from €75 to €80.25
Therefore, for the current programme year, 2017/18, the full year cost of a child attending ECCE 5 days per week for 38 weeks in a standard capitation room is €2,451. This increases to €2,850 per child in a higher capitation room.
In addition, my Department have committed to the continuation of the Programme Support Payment in 2018. We are currently working with Pobal to finalise the details of how these funds will be administered to childcare providers. As soon as there is further information in this regard providers will be alerted via PIP. There will likely be an announcement on this in the coming weeks. This funding is to acknowledge the administrative work that childcare providers undertake in order to provide the ECCE programme.