Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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169. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of providing a second early childhood care and education year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9844/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The introduction of a second pre-school year under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme would require considerable additional funding, broadly in line with the cost of the current free pre-school provision, which is €175 million. This additional funding is not currently available to my Department.

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, 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.