Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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221. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the €20 million allocated to early years care and education as outlined in budget 2018; the amount that has been spent; the way in which the moneys were spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24219/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Department secured an additional €20m of Early Years Care and Education funding in Budget 2018.  This funding was obtained to improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of Early Years Care and Education, through the following policy measures:

- Expand ECCE entitlement from an average of 61 weeks to two full programme years (76 weeks) for all qualifying children.

- Increase both ECCE capitation rates by 7%.

As both measures are due to be introduced from September 2018 no costs have been incurred thus far.