Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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468. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of increasing the capitation fee from €62.50 per child to €66 per child for 38 weeks and for 52 weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34558/15]

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. Funding of over €170 million is provided for the ECCE programme annually in which some 67,000 children participate.

The programme is designed to be delivered for three hours per day, five days per week, over 38 weeks (183 days per year), and capitation fees are paid to participating services on the basis of this provision. A standard capitation fee of €62.50 per week per eligible child is paid to participating childcare services. A higher capitation fee of €73 per week is paid per eligible child to services with more highly qualified staff.

On an enrolment figure of 67,000 children, the additional annual capitation required to provide for an increase in the standard weekly capitation rate from €62.50 per child to €66 per child for 38 weeks is approximately €6 million and for 52 weeks is approximately €70 million. These estimates assume no change to the higher capitation rate.