Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 787: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the decision announced in budget 2012 to increase the early years' adult-child ratio from 1:10 to 1:11 from September 2012, if she has any corresponding plans to increase the maximum number of children allowed per room to more than 20; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1009/12]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 788: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the decision announced in Budget 2012 to increase the early years' adult-child ratio from 1:10 to 1:11 from September 2012, if she has any corresponding plans to change to the floor space area per child ratio; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1010/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 787 and 788 together.

My Department is responsible for the implementation of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, which was introduced in January 2010 and provides for one free pre-school year for all eligible children before they commence primary school.

In line with the Programme for Government, my Department has made a significant commitment to maintaining the universal free pre-school year and to this end has secured additional funding provision to meet demographic pressures due to an increase in the birth-rate since 2007, with the cost of the programme expected to rise from €166m in 2011 to €180m in 2012. The universal nature of this programme is critical for childhood development and providing every child with early learning and preparation for school. The Programme for Government commits to maintaining the ECCE programme and indeed developing early childhood care and education as resources allow.

Under the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006, following inspection of the premises, the HSE may make a proposal to fix the number of pre-school children that can be catered for at the same time in a premises in which pre-school services is being carried out. This regulation, which is aimed at preventing over-crowding, takes into account the age range of the pre-school children and other factors, but does not set any maximum limit to the number of children that can be catered for in one room.

The staff/child ratios are also governed by the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006. These currently require that, where children are in the ECCE age cohort, there should be a ratio of no more than 1:10. It has been decided to increase this ratio to a maximum of 1:11, from September 2012. As the pre-school year is targeted at children in the year before they commence primary school, the increase is not expected to impact on quality.

The Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No.2) Regulations 2006 are due to be reviewed, and the impact of the change in ratios and other related issues, including space requirements, will be considered in the context of this review.