David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 469: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children who enrolled in preschool education in September, 2011 under the free preschool year; the percentage of all eligible children participating in this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26103/11]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 470: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of preschool services who are providing the free preschool year to children in September 2011; the percentage of all preschool services participating in this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26104/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I have responsibility for implementing the free pre-school year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme which was introduced in January 2010, and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school.

Almost every pre-school service in the State is participating in the programme ensuring that it is available to children in all areas. All services participating in the programme are required to return information to my Department at the start of each academic year in relation to the number of qualifying children attending, as services are funded on this basis.

Services had to make their 2011 returns by last week, and these are currently being processed, but I regret it is not possible at this stage to say what the participation rate will be in 2011/12.

The number of pre-school services participating in the programme has been estimated as 95%.