Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 361: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the estimated cost per year of providing free pre-school places for all children aged three to five. [28404/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The cost of providing free pre-school places for all children aged three to five is dependent on a number of factors including the type of model proposed. Pre-school services operate across a wide range of curricular philosophical bases, e.g., Montessori, Steiner, High/Scope. Other approaches include the Reggio Emilio approach. Any estimated costing would depend on the models of intervention envisaged and assumptions about different variables within those models. As these haven't been specified, it isn't possible to provide a costing as requested.

I would, however, like to point out while the mandatory school attendance age is 6, children from the age of 4 can enrol in primary schools. My Department's last statistical report showed that 45.5% of 4 year olds and 99% of 5 year olds are enrolled in primary schools. There is data available on how the Primary Sector is funded if the Deputy wishes to pursue this further.