Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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298. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the money being provided for the provision of the preschool year; the number of children being catered for; the number of these preschools being operated through Irish and the number being operated through English; the number of children in each category; her policy regarding same in view of the 20 year strategy for the Irish language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1995/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programe was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children before commencing primary school. Approximately 68,000 children availed of the free pre-school year in the 2012/2013 academic year and €175 million funding was made available to support the provision. It is expected that similar numbers will avail of the programme in the current year. All documentation relating to the ECCE programme, including application forms and parent declaration forms, are available in Irish as required under the Official Languages Act and can be accessed through my Department's website or directly from the Department. The contract is also available in Irish and service providers may submit their electronic returns in Irish.

There are approximately 4,300 childcare services providing the free pre-school programme with 234 of these providers using the term Naíoraí in the title to their service. However, only a handful of service providers requested the Irish version of the contract and only 60 services this year submitted their electronic returns using the Irish version of the electronic return form. The free pre-school year is provided by both commercial and community providers and it is a matter for the service provider to determine the medium through which the pre-school provision is delivered.