Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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1202. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated first-year and full-year cost of increasing the ECCE capitation grant by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39426/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The ECCE programme runs for 38 weeks each programme year. The standard capitation rate paid to providers is €69 per child, per week, and the higher capitation rate paid is €80.25 per child, per week. The programme currently provides 15 hours of free early learning and care per week.

€289.3m has been allocated to ECCE in 2021. 

The following table shows the financial impact of increasing the ECCE standard and higher capitation rates by 10% for the 2021/22 programme year and for subsequent years.  A 10% increase in ECCE capitation rates would equate to a full year increased cost of €28.9million.