Up to 85,000 are registering for free childcare in preschools across the country following a major expansion of the scheme, according to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone.
All children can now enter the scheme on reaching the age of three years old, effectively doubling the number of weeks of free childcare to an average of 61 weeks.
Minister Zappone says the extended scheme is providing an average saving of €4,000 per child.
Speaking as she visited Childcare services in Tallaght the Minister added:
“This is a tremendously exciting time for 85,000 children now eligible to enter pre-school to begin the journey and adventure into a life of education.
With a further 21,000 becoming eligible next January and 14,000 in April the numbers are significantly higher than the 67,000 who began free preschool this time last year.
The level of savings for families have also dramatically increased – from an average of €2,500 to €4,000 per child on annual childcare costs.
I am visiting preschools today to recognise and acknowledge the huge role of staff, management and providers in delivering this service and supporting local families.
This is a period when we are introducing some of the most significant changes since the introduction of free childcare.
It is important that the sector is supported and with that in mind I will at the end of the month host the first meeting of a new National Early Childcare Forum.
By working together we can set this country on a path to affordable, accessible, quality childcare for all.”
ENDS
Note to Editors
· This time last year, approximately 96% of all eligible pre-school aged children, numbering 67,000, began their free pre-school year under the ECCE ( the Early Childhood Care and Education) Programme. From this month however, the free pre-school Programme has been expanded to allow all children to benefit from free pre-school from the time they turn three until they start in primary school. In previous years under the ECCE Programme, children were eligible for a maximum of 38 weeks' free pre-school. Depending on their birth date and the age their parents wish them to start school, children will now be able to benefit from between 51 weeks and 88 weeks of free pre-school.
· Eligible children will now be able access the expanded ECCE Programme across 2 (and in some cases 3) school years. Whereas in previous years, eligible children were only permitted to access the ECCE Programme from the September of that preschool year, two further eligibility entry points have been added, in January and April, to facilitate additional access.
· From this month, as well as from January and April 2017, all children will be eligible to access ECCE after they have turned three and may avail of three hours per day of free preschool, 5 days per week, for the school year. Whereas the ECE Programme had been limited to 38 weeks, children will now benefit, on average, from 61 weeks of the ECCE Programme (an additional 23 weeks, on average).
· The previous 38 weeks of free pre-school saved parents accessing childcare over €2500 on their annual childcare costs. The expanded ECCE Programme will now save parents an additional €1500, on average, on their childcare costs.
· Pre-school providers are currently busy helping ECCE children settle into the preschool year and registering their enrolment numbers with the DCYA. When the full registration figures are available by the end of this month, it is estimated that up to 85,000 children will be registered, with a further 21,800 expected in January and a further 14,300 in April (based on 96% of all children at eligible age cohorts).
· Internationally it has been established that schemes such as ECCE, which provide children with access to high quality early years care and education, improve a range of outcomes for all children, particularly for disadvantaged children.
· The number of children with disabilities attending mainstream pre-school is also expected to increase with a new range of supports coming on stream this month under the Access and Inclusion Model for pre-schools ('AIM').
· The Minister also wishes to remind parents of a different scheme that is available for parents on low incomes, who are in receipt of a medical card or certain social welfare benefits or who are in training and education. The 'Community Childcare Subvention' (CCS) Programme was traditionally available through community childcare facilities only, but this year was expanded by her Department to a number of private providers. In 2015/16 the CCS Programme provided targeted childcare funding for upwards of 26,000 children. There are currently almost 950 community/not for profit as well as almost 650 private childcare providers offering the CCS Programme nationwide. Families who feel they may be eligible for assistance with their childcare costs under the CCS Programme should contact their local City or County Childcare Committee for further information. The CCS Programme offers eligible parents up to €95 per week, per child, towards their weekly childcare costs.
· The Minister and her Department are currently preparing an Early Years Strategy for consultation and publication in the coming months. This will set out the Government's vision for children from birth to age six in Ireland and will recognise how critical these years are to ensure the best possible outcomes for children, their families and their community. Early Years Care and Education will be a major focus of the strategy and it will consider international evidence on the benefits of investment in this sector. The Minister is very conscious of the costs to parents of childcare in this country and she is also conscious of how early years professionals need to be supported to deliver high quality, accessible services. The Minister is committed to working with her Government colleagues to address both affordability and quality over the next number of years. Investment in early years care and education will be of great benefit to children while also supporting greater female participation in the workforce; a critical objective to reduce poverty.