Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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1919. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of extending the ECCE scheme to 48 weeks. [27210/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The cost of extending the ECCE programme to 48 weeks at present rates would be €87m per year. It should be noted that this question only addresses the financial aspect of such increases. Any such changes would require revision of rules around eligibility and enrolment dates and would need to look at issues of capacity with regard to physical space, staffing capacities and other associated matters.

The actual cost of this proposal would be subject to a number of factors including actual levels of participation, and the number of children subvented at the 'higher capitation' rate - costs increase as the number of higher qualified staff increase.