Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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206. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding payment of fees in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27486/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, 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 for each eligible child 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.

Each qualifying child is entitled to one free pre-school year only. While the programme does include an exemption from the upper age limit for qualification for children with special needs and an option of splitting the provision over two years, by availing of the programme for 2 days a week in the first year and for 3 days a week in the second year, there is no provision for a second full year. The child referred to by the Deputy was enrolled for the full free pre-school complement in the 2013/2014 academic year and the full funding was provided to the childcare provider on this basis. There are no circumstances where a second free pre-school year is provided under the programme and, therefore, no additional provision can be made for this child.