Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 300: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the value of the early childcare payment provided in the 2007 Estimate; and the change which it represents over 2006. [39669/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Early Childhood Supplement (ECS) was introduced by the Government with effect from 1 April 2006 and is being paid in quarterly instalments of €250. The final payment in 2006 is due to be paid on 11 December and some 275,000 families are benefiting.

The funding allocated for the ECS in 2006 is €265 million, covering three payments, which equates to full year funding of €353.3 million. The 2007 full year allocation for the ECS is €381 million, representing an increase of 7.8% on the full year figure for 2006. This significant level of funding reflects factors such as the increasing birth rate and, therefore an increase in the number of children aged under 6 years, and the fact that, to maximise the benefit to parents of young children, the ECS is being paid to parents for each quarter in which their child is under 6 years, including the quarter in which the child reaches 6 years, effectively giving parents an additional quarterly payment.