Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the numbers of children availing of the preschool scheme in 2009 and to date in 2010; the total cost of this scheme; if it has been assessed for its effectiveness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43194/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme which is implemented by my Office, was introduced in January 2010 and is expected to cost almost €160m this year.

In January 2010, 53,000 children availed of the scheme. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that this figure increased to 63,000 children in September 2010, the first full year of the scheme. This represents a participation rate of 94% of children in the year before primary school.