Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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299. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify his comments made regarding the cutting of child benefit; if he will make his intentions clear with regards to the future of child benefit; if child benefit will be cut in order to fund additional free pre-school care; if he will clarify the current status of these proposals and if costings have been undertaken; if his attention has been drawn to the distress, fear and upset being caused as a result of these reports; if his attention has been drawn to the importance of child benefit in assisting families in keeping their heads above water; if he will give an assurance that child benefit will not be cut any further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23067/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The intention of my comments was to raise a debate on how, in the current fiscal climate, an extension of the universal free pre-school year might be financed. There are no decisions or proposals on the table regarding cuts in child benefit.

Research shows that high quality pre-school education delivers lasting benefits in terms of better academic attainment and socio-behavioural outcomes, particularly for children from minority groups and low-income families. The evidence is that it can help close the gap in social development and literacy and numeracy achievement between children from socially advantaged and disadvantaged backgrounds.

Based on this, I declared my support in principle for an extension of the universal free pre-school year. However, I also acknowledged that, given the current fiscal climate, it would be necessary to consider how such an expansion could be financed and called for a debate on how this might be done.

In the interim, I believe we could, at a much smaller cost, transform the quality of education being delivered under the free pre-school year. Research evidence shows that just attending pre-school predicts improved educational attainment by the age of 14. However, the research also indicates that the quality of that pre-school education is a further predictor of the levels of attainment children can reach by the same age.

I believe that, in a short period and with limited additional resources, we could put in place the frameworks and supports needed to up-skill our pre-school leaders and assistants, review and develop the mandatory system of inspections for all pre-school settings, and fully implement the Aistear curriculum framework in pre-schools.

In the meantime, it is worth noting that this Government has continued to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to protect the existing year of free pre-school.