Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Independent)
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221. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to difficulties faced by childcare providers under the early childhood care and education scheme in paying for staff in view of the fact that the scheme does not cover staff costs for the full calendar year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41780/13]

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 before commencing primary school. In line with the Programme for Government, I have made a very significant commitment to maintaining the pre-school year on a universal and free basis despite the budgetary situation. The free pre-school provision represents an annual investment in the region of €175 million with standard capitation of €2,375 being paid to service providers for each eligible child enrolled in their service. There is no further funding currently available to my Department to provide for any increased payments to services participating in the ECCE programme.

It has always been the case that services opting to participate in the programme meet the cost of providing the pre-school year, including the costs of meeting the statutory entitlement of employees to paid leave, from the capitation provided. It is a matter for each participating service to manage its business affairs including how the service aligns itself with the provisions of the programme.