Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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142. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the Better Start programme entailing a third regulatory inspection of child care establishments, if he will improve the payments to early educators in line with the level of responsibility being imposed upon them. [47515/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The National Early Years Quality Support Service - Better Start- is being introduced as part of the Early Years Quality Agenda currently being progressed by my Department. The Better Start programme is a national approach to quality improvement supports. One element of this, the Early Years Specialist Service, is employing 30 graduates in early childhood care and education who will work directly with services to improve quality, including assisting services in the implementation of the Síolta Framework and the Aistear Curriculum. No part of Better Start has a role in inspection and there is no additional burden on services because of its introduction.

Approximately €260m is invested annually by the Government to support the provision of early childhood care and education through three childcare support programmes, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme and the Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) programmes. Despite the difficult budgetary position that has prevailed in recent years, the Government has maintained the investment in these programmes. While considerable progress has been made in correcting the overall budgetary situation, the funding available to my Department does not allow for the consideration of an increase in the level of support for childcare providers participating in the programmes. However, as funding becomes available, I would hope that the capitation rates for all programmes could be increased to provide further support.