Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 501: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans for early childhood care and education scheme funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33472/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The administration of the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme (ECCE) is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children. The ECCE provides a universal entitlement to a free preschool year for children aged between three years and three months and four years and six months on 1 September of each year. Funding of the ECCE is a matter for the Minister for Health and Children and her Department to consider in the first instance, in the context of preparing their estimates for 2011 and future years.