Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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16. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his negotiations and discussions with the preschool sector regarding the capacity within existing preschools to handle the extension to the preschool year commencing in September 2016, including if there are any gaps in capacity and in what counties these are. [3207/16]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the considerable support of the childcare sector and the flexibility of childcare providers and staff in ensuring that the range of childcare support programmes administered by my Department are implemented.

At present, the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme covers children who have reached the age of 3 years and 2 months by 1st September of the relevant year. From September 2016, I am expanding this Programme to allow children enrol in free pre-school from the time they are 3 years of age and to remain there until they start primary school.

Following the Budget announcement, I met with senior representatives from the early years sector to discuss the measures that were announced as part of the Budget package. The meeting was positive and constructive, with all parties expressing commitment to work together on the issues of capacity and high quality pre-school provision.

As a result of the Budget extension, the number of children benefiting from the Programme is expected to rise from around 67,000 to 127,000 in a given programme year. For the 2016/17 programme year, it is estimated that 89,500 children will be eligible to enrol in the Programme from September 2016, an additional 22,000 from January 2017 and a further 15,500 from April 2017.

I decided to introduce this new measure from September 2016 in order to provide the early years sector with the time to build capacity to meet the increased demand. As the increased demand for the Programme is not expected to peak until April 2017, this timeframe should allow preschool providers to make any necessary infrastructural or service changes and to put in place extra staff resources to accommodate the additional demand.

I am satisfied that there is already additional capacity in the early years sector to cope with some of the increased demand. The Annual Survey of Early Years Services, which was conducted in December 2014, estimates that there are more than 24,000 vacancies in early years services across the country with almost 13,000 of these vacancies in sessional services.

I am also aware that every year a significant number of new preschool providers apply to participate in this Programme. This increased demand for, and additional investment in, free preschool provision should encourage a greater numbers of applicants.

It is clear that more capacity will be required. Officials in my Department are working closely with the City and County Childcare Committees and the Voluntary Childcare Organisations to identify measures to help increase capacity.