Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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158. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the budgetary allocation and participation rates for the early start programme over each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18534/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Early Start programme has centres in 40 DEIS primary schools in Ireland.  In terms of the budgetary allocation to Early Start, my Department pays capitation grants at the rate of €95.23 per enrolled student and other grants amounting to €4444.09 per full unit and €2475.99 per half unit for materials, equipment and parental involvement allowances to each centre.  In addition to this expenditure, Early Start centres are staffed by a primary school teacher and a childcare assistant. Salaries and associated costs are covered by my Department.  The table shows enrolments and budgetary allocations from 2008/09 to 2016/17.

*Includes capitation grant per enrolled student, other allowances per unit and half unit as well as average salary costs for 55 primary teachers and childcare workers.