Margaret Conlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

The introduction of the early childhood care and education scheme is the most significant development in early childhood care and education which has taken place in Ireland. Building on the progress made over the past decade by three successive Fianna Fáil-led governments, we are now taking the first major step in providing universal preschool education for all children. This is a huge achievement for any Government at any time. While the critics on the Opposition benches snipe at this, they are failing in their duty to build a consensus in this House on the best structure the scheme should take.

Children will be eligible for the free preschool year when they are aged between three years, three months and four years, six months on 1 September of each year. Exceptions will be made where a child has special needs or to accommodate children due to the enrolment policy of a local primary school.

It is important that preschool provision is delivered in a consistent format set within an appropriate educational environment and structure. When my children were at this age, these facilities were not available. Now, wonderful structured facilities are available and it is important the opportunity for free preschool education is available to all children. It will help them to integrate and make the transition from home life to school much easier.

An annual capitation fee of over €2,400 will be paid to participating services, the equivalent of €64.50 per week for a service participating for 38 weeks and €48.50 per week for one participating for 50 weeks. Services will be paid in advance at the start of each term. As a free preschool year, participating services must agree to provide the service in return for the capitation grant which is obvious enough.

Service providers may charge parents for additional services provided which would be optional. These would include additional hours, over and above the free preschool year requirement and additional services in the form of various one-off or ongoing activities or services such as birthdays, meals or dancing, etc. However, all additional services offered must be clearly optional and not hidden or underhand charges and subject to parents' agreement. The Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, must be strong on this point.

It is expected 70,000 children will participate in the scheme from the early stages of its introduction. This would represent 90% of all children eligible in the 15 month age range allowed for and almost all children when the pattern of enrolments in the year prior to starting primary school settles into place. A sufficient number of preschool places is expected to be available based on the existing capacity in the sector and it will be open to all preschool services, of which there are almost 5,000, to participate.

That payments will be made at the start of each term is a significant benefit to services, particularly in the current economic climate. While some high-cost services have argued that the rate of capitation should be higher, the majority of services have expressed their support for the scheme. If the capitation were higher, it would be unsustainable. Whatever rate one decides on, there will always be someone who wants it higher as everyone's perception of fairness is different. The fee is much higher than that allowed for under the equivalent scheme operating in Northern Ireland, which amounts to a weekly fee of £30. For most service providers, the scheme will see an increase in their income, allowing them to meet the higher standards required for participation relative to the existing requirements under the child care regulations.

Research has shown the greatest benefit from preschool is found among children from disadvantaged backgrounds. In these tough economic times, these children should be given priority. Preschool education should be a right for all, irrespective of class, creed or income. The introduction of this preschool year has been welcomed as a positive step by Barnardos and other national child care organisations. This is a long-term decision that will reap huge benefits in years to come. It will give equal opportunities to all children, particularly the most marginalised who would not otherwise be able to attend preschool, as well as helping parents who, up to now, had to meet the cost of preschool provision. With any new scheme, there will be teething problems and we must identify those as soon as possible to iron them out. The true long-term benefits will be on a societal level. For this, the Government will be thanked in years to come for introducing this scheme.

See this speech in context