Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 183: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there are plans to reduce the minimum number of children a child-care provider needs to cater for in order to be able to participate in the early childhood care and education scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are many child-care providers who wish to participate in the scheme but due to the fact that they care for fewer than ten children they have been turned away; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42106/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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. The scheme as announced allows for a minimum enrolment of 8 children who qualify for the free Pre-School Year, rather than 10 as stated. In addition, exceptions to this requirement are provided for. As a result, services which, for good reason, have an enrolment of not more than 8 children of whom 3 or more are in their pre-school year and the remainder will be eligible in the following year, and childminding services with an enrolment of 5 children, all of whom are in their pre-school year, can apply to participate in the scheme. These minimum requirements are considered appropriate to ensure that a satisfactory standard of pre-school provision is delivered.