Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Question 426: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide in tabular form the number of private and public local organisations who are receiving funding to provide the early childhood care and education scheme otherwise known as the free pre-school year scheme in Dublin Mid West constituency; the amount of funding provided in 2009, 2010 and 2011 for the early childhood care and education scheme service in Dublin mid west constituency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33136/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. About 65,000 children, that is approximately 95% of children in the year before school, are availing of the free pre-school provision at this time.

In 2011, the ECCE programme cost approximately €166 million. Additional funding has been made available for 2012 when the cost of the programme is expected to rise to €175 million to cater for changing demographics and provide for the increased number of children in the relevant age cohort.

The data requested by the Deputy is currently being collated and I will issue this information directly to the Deputy.