Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the recently announced free pre-school year; when the scheme will commence; if it will be open to all pre-schools to apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21061/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware I have responsibility for the implementation of the new scheme to provide a free Pre-School year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), which will commence in January 2010.

It is open to all voluntary and commercial pre-school services, which are notified to the Health Service Executive (HSE) or registered with the Irish Montessori Education Board.(IMEB), to apply to participate in the scheme. All services will be required to provide an educational programme consistent with the principles of Síolta and appropriate to the age of participating children. A national team of Síolta co-ordinators and the City and County Childcare Committees will assist services in meeting these standards. Details of the application process will be issued very shortly by my Office to the almost 5,000 services concerned.

To be eligible, children must be aged between 3 years 3 months and 4 years 6 months on the 1st September each year, however, exceptions will be allowed where children have special needs or it is necessary to accept children at an older age due to the enrolment policy of the local primary school. Eligible children will avail of a free pre-school place provided for 3 hours a day, 5 days a week over 38 weeks or, alternatively, for 2 hours 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week over 50 weeks. In certain cases, services will be allowed to participate on the basis of providing 3 hours 30 minutes a day, 4 days a week over 41 weeks. As the new scheme will be introduced from January next, the first full year will be from September 2010 and children availing of the scheme in January 2010 will have a reduced period of free pre-school provision.

In return for providing a free pre-school place, services will receive a weekly capitation fee of €64.50, where children attend for 38 weeks, and of €48.50 where children attend for 50 weeks of the year. The grant will be paid to services at the start of each term, or quarter, as applicable. While it is a condition of the scheme that the pre-school year is provided free of charge, services may charge for additional services (e.g. additional hours or activities) provided these are offered to parents on an optional basis and provided children not availing of an additional service continue to receive appropriate pre-school provision.

Pre-School leaders will be expected to hold a certification for a major award in childcare/early education at a minimum of level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland (NFQ) or an equivalent recognised qualification in the childcare/early education field. In the first two full years of the scheme, a person holding an award in early childhood care and education that includes significant content relating to early childhood education/early learning and child development, and who has at least two years experience of working in a position of responsibility with children in the 0-6 age range, will be considered to meet the qualification requirement.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason an application for capital grant aid to build a pre-school facility by a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan was unsuccessful; the financial supports that may be available to this business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21062/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006 -2010 under which capital grant funding is made available to community and commercial childcare providers for the development of childcare facilities.

With the economic downturn Government expenditure, particularly in the area of new capital commitments, has been subject to review and a decision was taken in April of this year not to approve additional grant applications under the NCIP capital programme at this time. All capital grants applicants, including the applicant referred to by the Deputy have been advised of the position. Existing capital commitments will continue to be processed during 2009 and 2010.

The City and County Childcare Committees will be advised by my Office if and when additional capital funding becomes available to my Office in 2011 and 2012.