Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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739. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will deal with a matter (details supplied) regarding the early childhood care and education scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34081/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children before commencing primary school. Approximately 68,000 children avail of the provision each academic year.

There is no provision under the ECCE programme to provide for a second free pre-school year for any child. However, the programme includes a number of additional provisions to take account of children with special needs. These include an exemption from the upper age limit for qualification under the programme where a child is developmentally delayed and would benefit from starting primary school at a later age. In addition, children with special needs can apply to have the pre-school year split over two years on a pro-rata basis, for example availing of the programme for 2 days a week in the first year and for 3 days a week in the second year. Application for these exemptions must be made prior to the child commencing the programme.

It is considered that the introduction of a second year would benefit children’s educational and developmental outcomes.However, 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, which is €175 million per annum. 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 Early Years 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 Early Years Quality Agenda.

Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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743. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of preschools that have applied for or requested a second free ECCE year for children with a disability or who have difficulty with the English language; if funding is available for individual cases where this is deemed necessary and how such funding is accessed. [34235/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides for one free pre-school year for all eligible children before commencing primary school.

Children with special needs can avail of the free pre-school provision over two years on a pro-rata basis, for example availing of the programme for 2 days a week in the first year and for 3 days a week in the second year. Application for these exemptions are made by the parent prior to the child commencing the programme.

There is no provision under the programme for a second full pre-school year for any child.