Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I will address the same point. The allocation for 2015 has been reduced by €2.6 million and the Minister indicated that 68,000 children will benefit from the scheme this year. Some people make a substantial case for the introduction of a second free preschool year, while another strong lobby argues instead for having the highest possible standards apply across the board in the existing service. Time and again, when lobbied on this issue, I am told there is a significant variation in the standards that apply. The highest standards must be attained but this will not be achieved while the Minister holds the capitation payment at the reduced level that has applied in recent years. The €2.6 million saving in the current year could have been employed to help bring the level of supports and provision to the highest attainable standards. It is my understanding that this is what many service providers and parents would appreciate.