Written answers

Tuesday, 17 June 2014

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Preschool Services

Photo of Terence FlanaganTerence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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788. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to extend the early childhood care and education scheme in order that children may avail of two years as opposed to one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25405/14]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children before commencing primary school. Approximately 68,000 children are availing of the provision in the current academic year. The free pre-school provision represents an annual investment of approximately €175 million and this funding has been maintained despite the challenging budgetary situation.

The introduction of a second pre-school year would require considerable additional funding, broadly in line with the cost of the current one-year provision. This additional funding is not currently available due to the financial constraints under which the Government is operating. In addition, all of the available evidence indicates that the quality of the pre-school provision is key to good outcomes for children. The Pre-School Quality Agenda that is being progressed by my Department, and which involves a range of actions in key areas aimed at improving quality within early years services and enhancing the regulatory regime, is a key building block for any further extension of universal childcare provision.

Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures,the national policy framework for children and young people 2014-2020, recognises the value of early childhood care and education in supporting children's early cognitive, social and emotional development, and the Government is committed to the introduction of a second free pre-school year within the lifetime of the framework once the required quality standards are achieved and subject to the availability of resources. My Department and I will be keeping this commitment under review in the context of the progress of the Pre-School Quality Agenda.

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