Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the minimum age for the early childhood care and education scheme will remain at three years and three months, or if the minimum age has been raised as some child-care providers have been told. [36919/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the implementation of the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which is being introduced in January 2010.

Children will qualify for the free pre-school year where they are aged between 3 years 3 months and 4 years 6 months on 1 September each year. I am satisfied that the most generous possible interpretation of the qualifying age range is being applied, in that children who are aged more than 3 years 2 months and less than 4 years 7 months at 1 September each year will be held to qualify. This will mean that, in January 2010, children born on or after 2 February 2005 or on or before 30 June 2006 will qualify. In September 2010, children born on or after 2 February 2006 or on or before 30 June 2007 will qualify, and so on in subsequent years.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a child who is below the minimum age for the early childhood care and education scheme when it comes into effect in January 2010 will become eligible immediately upon reaching that age; and if a child who reaches the maximum age ceases to be eligible immediately upon reaching that age. [36920/09]

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 Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which provides a free Pre- School year to eligible children and which will be introduced in January 2010.

Children will qualify for the free pre-school year where they are aged between 3 years 3 months and 4 years 6 months on 1 September each year. The application of this age range is being interpreted as generously as possible to include children who are aged more than 3 years 2 months and less than 4 years 7 months at 1 September. This will mean that, in January 2010, children born on or after 2 February 2005 or on or before 30 June 2006 will qualify. In September 2010, children born on or after 2 February 2006 or on or before 30 June 2007 will qualify, and so on in subsequent years.

With the exception of the interim pre-school year commencing in January next, each pre-school year will commence in early September. Children who are within the qualifying age range on 1 September will qualify for the duration of that year. Children who will be within the qualifying age range on 1 September of the following year will qualify for that year.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 273: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the level of subvention that will be awarded to child care providers in respect of each child under the early childhood care and education scheme. [36921/09]

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 Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which provides a free Pre-School year to eligible children and which will be introduced in January 2010.

The standard capitation fee which will be payable to services participating in the new scheme, will be approximately €2,450 per annum in respect of each qualifying child availing of the free pre-school year in the service. This is equivalent to approximately €276 per month, where a service is participating for 38 weeks or €207 per month, where it participates for 50 weeks. This payment will be made, in advance, at the beginning of each term.

A higher capitation rate of €75 per week (€2,850 p.a.) was announced in July of this year and will be available to sessional playschool services in which all child care workers have qualification levels above the minimum requirements for the scheme. To qualify for the higher capitation rate all Pre-School Leaders in the service must hold a level 7 or 8 qualification relating to child care and have 3 years experience working in the sector, and all assistants must hold a relevant level 5 qualification.