James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 786: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will to ensure the provision of necessary funding for a child-care facility (details supplied) in County Longford, which it has not received from the childcare directorate through higher capitation, to which it is entitled, to enable it to continue the work it does for the disadvantaged families in the local area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41397/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, which is implemented by my Department, was introduced in January 2010 and provides for a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before they commence primary school.

A capitation payment is provided under the ECCE programme to participating services for each eligible child enrolled for the free pre-school year. The standard capitation rate is €2,450 per annum (€64.50 per week) and a higher capitation rate of €2,850 per annum (€75.00 per week) is payable to services with more qualified staff. To qualify for the higher capitation rate all Pre-School leaders in the service must hold a major award in early childhood care and education or equivalent at a minimum Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications and have 3 years experience working in the sector, and all assistants must hold a relevant Fetac level 5 qualification or its equivalent. Evidence of this higher qualification must be provided to the Childcare Directorate in my Department before the higher capitation payment can be sanctioned.

I understand that the service referred to by the Deputy has submitted evidence of the higher qualification requirement and a letter confirming sanction of the higher payment has issued confirming that the service qualifies for the higher capitation payment of €75 per week for each eligible child enrolled for the period September 2011 to June 2012. I also understand that a recent payment to the service under the ECCE programme has taken account of this increased capitation amount.

This childcare service is also participating in the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme which provides funding to community childcare services to enable them to charge reduced fees to disadvantaged and low income families. Funding totalling €81,422 was recently approved for this service for the school year 2011/2012 and is based on the parental returns submitted by the service to the Childcare Directorate in my Department.