Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There has been an immediate call from early childhood care providers to increase capitation for the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme, from €69 to €76 per week, at a cost of €30 million per annum. I have been contacted by several providers in Mayo who state that their businesses will no longer be viable if increased capitation is not put in place. Despite positive support for employees in early childhood care in this year's budget, the Federation of Early Childhood Providers is asking for more funding to cover the costs of administrating core funding. Children with additional needs are only funded to get support during the ECCE preschool session. Early childhood care providers say the related funding stream aims must be expanded. The Federation of Early Childhood Providers has balloted its members and is now planning two closure days next month. This will have a severe impact on working families. I ask the Minister to engage with these groups to see if a solution can be found.

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